Three women rescued a stray cat stranded on a roof in Kars province, Turkey, using an ironing board as a bridge [1, 2].
The incident highlights the lengths local residents will go to protect urban wildlife and the creative problem-solving used when professional emergency services are unavailable.
The rescue took place on July 31 [3]. The cat had become stuck on the roof of a building that reached seven stories in height [3, 4]. Because the animal could not descend on its own, the women devised a plan to create a stable path for the cat to walk across.
By utilizing an ironing board, the group established a narrow bridge between the roof's edge and a reachable point. This improvised equipment allowed the stray to move safely away from the ledge and back into the care of the rescuers [1, 2].
While reports on the exact number of rescuers vary between two and three people, the group worked together to ensure the animal's safety [2, 5]. Similarly, some accounts describe the building as six stories, though others maintain it was seven stories tall [3, 6].
Kars province is known for its cold climate and distinct architecture, but the focus of the community in this instance remained on the welfare of the stray animal [4]. The successful rescue was captured on video and shared via social media, drawing attention to the plight of stranded pets in urban environments [1].
“Three women rescued a stray cat stranded on a roof in Kars province, Turkey, using an ironing board as a bridge.”
This event underscores the role of community-led animal rescue efforts in regions where formal animal control infrastructure may be limited. The use of household items for emergency rescues reflects a grassroots approach to animal welfare common in many Turkish cities, where stray cats are often integrated into the social fabric of the neighborhood.
