I’m a huge fan of Canada. I love maple syrup, Letterkenny, Tim Hortons, ice hockey…and I also love cats. So when the saga of #HydroCat went down yesterday, I was glued to my Twitter feed.
It all started when a neighborhood cat found himself atop what appeared to be an electricity (or, hydro, as the Canadians call it) pole on a cold Toronto morning.
Concerned residents are calling for help to get this cat off the top of a pole in Bloordale Village. No luck with @Toronto_Fire, @311Toronto or @TorontoHydro pic.twitter.com/w0KBFmWPbc
— Kelly Linehan (@KellyCP24) February 27, 2020
The Toronto Fire Department and Toronto Hydro were initially unable to help, with Toronto Hydro tweeting that they understood everyone’s concerns, but that the cat would come down on his own
Now, here’s the thing and I’m gonna tell ya: normally, I would agree. A cat stuck in a tree? Cat will come down when he’s hungry. Cat stuck atop a tall, thin, hydro pole on a -4°C/24.8°F day? He may be able to come down, but he also may slip and fall and cause a very sad scene for all of the neighborhood residents gathered around the pole, hoping for his safe return to terra firma.
Everyone calling and tweeting at Toronto Hydro to please help the cat (including myself, quite dramatically) paid off, as they dispatched a truck to save Hydro Cat!
This tweet has a video of the daring rescue:
THANK YOU @TorontoHydro and @TOAnimalService also @CP24 @CityNews @globalnews @cmcdonaldglobal @KellyCP24 for helping #hydrocat they’re safe now pic.twitter.com/9Pq4OtH1nS
— Chris Ball (@chrisjballTO) February 27, 2020
Hydro Cat was safely rescued and was taken to the vet for a check up and then to Toronto Animal Services.
The cat is now I’m good hands.
S/he’s being taken to the veterinarian by @TOAnimalService and may be up for adoption soon. And it turns out #hydrocat wasn’t up a hydro pole after all. Apparently it’s either a Bell or Rogers pole!! pic.twitter.com/ZOYa3BqiC0— Catherine McDonald (@cmcdonaldglobal) February 27, 2020
Toronto Animal Services provided an update that the cat indeed male, was not microchipped and not neutered.
He is about a year old and “in good condition, but rather thin and understandably nervous.” If he’s not claimed, he will likely be put up for adoption.
Hydro Cat has been named Everest by Toronto Animal Services, and he was even visited by Toronto Hydro workers today.
Update on #HydroCat! Some crew members who helped rescue the little guy went to visit him today and he’s doing well. @TOAnimalService officially named him Everest – and we think the name is purr-fect! pic.twitter.com/NvPMXJwtiw
— Toronto Hydro (@TorontoHydro) February 28, 2020
I’m very happy that the Hydro Cat/Everest saga has a happy ending! What I love most about this is all of the people in the neighborhood who stood below the pole and tried to coax him down with food and stayed until he was safely rescued by Toronto Hydro. I’m also glad that Toronto Hydro did the right thing and dispatched workers to save him!
Just a cute story that I wanted to pass along. I’ll update this post if Everest finds a new home. Oh, and it turns out, it was a data pole, not a hydro pole.
Update on 3/1/20:
Hydro Cat is named Bruno and has been reunited with his owner! He was also neutered and microchipped by Toronto Animal Service.
Since so many people were intrigued by this story, my friend Lesley was inspired to create Hydro Cat tshirts/merch with the goal of donating all proceeds to Toronto Animal Service. She asked me to help with the art, and the final products can be purchased on RedBubble. Please consider getting a shirt, sticker, or whatever strikes your fancy!
You can view the RedBubble shop here.
Danielle Sauers 