You would think that fire services don't really waste their valuable time rescuing cats stuck up trees, but they do, as was the case in Almuñécar.

Residents of a block of flats at the eastern end of Velilla (Punta de Jesús) had spend the night and most  of the morning hearing a cat mewing in apparent distress, so they eventually called the Policía Local just before five in the afternoon.

Out came a patrol car, accompanying a fire engine (truck) which pulled up just below where the road climbs a little to reach Playa El Tesorillo. They could hear the cat, but not see it, as it was stuck on a rock face hidden amongst undergrowth.

The fire personnel got out a ladder and climbed up but every time they got anywhere near where the cat was literally hiding, it would clam up and be silent. And so it went on until at least a quarter past five, which was when I rode by.

Eventually it was decided that the cat was too scared to show itself and further rescue operations would be futile, so the cat and residents were left to their fate.

Although we might feel that this was a waste of taxpayers’ money and valuable fire-personnel time, it does provide  practice for call outs and using the ladders.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)