THERE HAS been a purrfect ending to the tale of Sammy, the young cat stuck 60 feet up a tree in Limekilns for days on end.

It could well have been a catastrophe for the three-year-old jet black kitty, who is thought to have got into the precarious position up to nine days earlier.

After a concerted effort by Sammy’s owners, the Scottish SPCA, Plummer Brothers and the community, Sammy decided he’d like to get his paws on terra firma on Sunday and let himself be rescued.

Yesterday he was safely back home with his brother Eddie, lapping up lots of attention from owners, husband and wife Steve Bruce and Suzi Morrice.

Suzi said Sammy went missing from their home a week past Tuesday.

“I was calling for him and set out with Eddie who was, I have to say, completely useless at finding him, when I heard a long miaow,” she said.

“Then I looked up and there he was—I thought brilliant, he will be so easy to deal with and phoned the fire brigade who said they do not deal with this.

“I completely understand that as I do not want someone being burnt while they are out dealing with my cat up a tree.”

Suzi also contacted the Scottish SPCA for advice.

“They were there virtually every day, and I realise they are having to deal with really bad crises as well as trying to coax Sammy down, so their help was brilliant,” she added.

They said the cat was happy where he was and the best thing was for him to come down when ready as that would be less stressful.

“So we waited. We’d be out in the morning and then as soon as we got home from work we hoped he would be down but he didn’t move.”

Steven then made contact with tree surgeons Plummer Brothers.

As the tree surgeon approached, Sammy jumped four trees to get away but Suzi was at least relieved he seemed healthy enough to make the leap.

Local radio station Forth One even ran an appeal for suggestions and a mountain rescue team tried to help.

Martin Tait, who owns Plummer Brothers, offered help on hearing the appeal.

On Saturday, Sammy headed for loftier heights, ending 20 feet up on thinner branches.

But success came on Sunday with the return of Martin and a Scottish SPCA inspector.

“I wanted to help the owners, help the cat and help the community get a good night’s sleep—they were more worried about the safety of the cat, but he was howling,” said Martin.

Suzi said, “Again Sammy wouldn’t let Martin get anywhere near him and we were very concerned branches would break and Sammy would fall so he thought of cutting branches around Sammy so he would have no option but to go down.

“He was at the lowest point he’d ever been and the SSPCA had brought along their longest ladder and my husband climbed up to the top and managed to just touch him with his fingertips.

“We couldn’t believe it when he crawled down his arm and sat on his shoulder.”

Sammy jumped off nearer the ground but by the time the couple raced home he was already there.

Scottish SPCA senior inspector John Chisholm said, “We took advice from the fire brigade and a tree surgeon but the climb was too steep and dangerous to attempt a 60 foot rescue.”

“After a 20-day wait, it was quite an easy rescue in the end.”

Suzi, who thinks Sammy may have been chasing birds, also wanted to thank the community for helping.