A tiny kitten was rescued by the fire service and RSPCA after a customer heard its distressed cries when it became trapped in a tight wall space at a Northfield DIY shop last week.
The customer of the Bristol Road South shop called the RSPCA and West Midlands Fire Service after hearing the meows behind shelves of wallpaper last Tuesday (13th June).
RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Vic Hurr and the fire service had to cut the wall to bring the small cat – just weeks old – out to safety.
The terrified kitten had fallen down a pipe from the roof of the shop – where it would appear there are a often a number of stray cats – and become wedged in a gap just inches wide with no way of getting itself back out again.
Vic said: “If we hadn’t have been alerted then he would have died a horrible slow death of starvation. The poor thing was terrified.
“We don’t know for certain how long he was there for and the only way we could free him was by breaking through the wall. The gaps will now be blocked off so hopefully no more cats will get themselves stuck like this.”
The rescued kitten is now being cared for in Worcester where it is hoped he can be socialised with another litter of kittens of a similar age.
Vic said: “It is early days for him as he needs a lot of TLC, he is quite a nervous little chap. It has been quite an ordeal for him.”
If you see an animal in distress, please contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
To help the RSPCA carry out animal rescues, text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (text costs £3 + one standard network rate message) or visit www.rspca.org.uk/give.