It was touch-and-go for a little while, but Jordan Mills is very happy to have kitty Miso back on the ground — at least for now.
Miso bit off a bit more than she could chew Sunday, climbing to a height her owner estimated at about 30 feet up a tree in the Pinckney neighborhood.
Mills was surprised to learn that first responders couldn’t come help — she said on Facebook that she called the nonemergency dispatch line, but she was told that neither police nor firefighters were able to assist.
So she posted to the Facebook group LFKitteh, seeking advice from other Lawrence cat people, around 1:30 Sunday.
“My poor thing is crying for me,” she posted.
But around 2 p.m., she received a message from the stranger in an orange helmet who would soon come rescue the frightened black cat.
Nick Devin messaged Mills that he works for Kansas Tree Care, and he could help.
A little more than an hour after that, Miso was safe with her mom and Devin was hailed as “another hero who doesn’t wear a cape” by a member of the concerned Facebook group audience.
Just for good measure, Devin cut down a dead tree for them after the whole ordeal, Mills said — they didn’t ask, “he just offered!”
And Kansas Tree Care, at 301 Maple St. in North Lawrence, will be getting a rave review from Mills and family.
“I absolutely can’t believe Nick’s selflessness,” Mills said. “It warms my heart.”
Best of all, “Miso the tree cat” made it down safe and sound after her big adventure.
Mills sent the Times these two videos of the ordeal.
Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.