UPDATE: Cat rescued after being stuck on Kamloops hydro pole for days

KAMLOOPS – The Honourable Lord Pumpernickel had been stuck near the top of a hydro pole, likely since Tuesday morning and his owner was getting frustrated no one was willing to help. That is until B.C. Hydro showed up to save the day late Thursday afternoon. 

Owner Ashley Diehl believes the nearly two-year-old cat got chased up the power pole near their Cherry Creek home overnight Monday or early Tuesday morning where he got no reprieve from the scorching heat.

“He likes to go outside to go mousing, but this is the first time he’s done something crazy,” she says. “I’m worrying because of how hot it is out, that’s my main concern right now.”

Diehl had tried calling the SPCA, Humane Society, the fire department, RCMP, B.C. Hydro and even different city services like bylaws. She says she has got the same answer from all of them and wass beyond frustrated with the lack of help she received.

“They all say he’ll come down eventually when he gets hungry, or tired, or hot,” she says. “Hydro says they can’t do anything because of the risk involved with the power lines. Isn’t their job to deal with electricity and power?”

In the meantime she laid out plain coloured blankets to help Pumpernickel with his depth perception and she also placed fresh food and water near the base as well. Tuesday and Wednesday Diehl or one of her family members maintained a vigil near the base hoping to coax the cat down.

Late in the afternoon she received a call from McMaster, a family friend who works for Telus. He was able to work with a friend at B.C. Hydro to arrange for a rescue and by just after 5 p.m. Pumpernickel was down and running back home.

Hydro worker Jeremy O'Lainey says they don't see these types of rescues often—he's only handled three in eight years in Kamloops—but they are always happy to help out the cats and their owners when possible.

Diehl says the hydro workers are now her heroes and she may just get a B.C. Hydro tattoo to show her support for them.

Diehl says Pumpernickel had lost some weight over the past couple of days and while he was skittish about being outside, or held, he did seem happy to be back with his owner.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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— This story was udpated at 6:39 p.m., July 10 with the rescue and to add more pictures and video.