Thousands of viewers came in for an hour and a half to watch Gypsy as he set up shop on the pole, sat down there, licked himself, tried to get off, changed his mind, and continued to lick himself.
According to his name, Gypsy the cat comes and goes, sometimes leaving from home for weeks at a time. The cat, who values his independence, is dependent on the generosity of his neighbors in Phoenix, Arizona, who leave food and water out for him.
Therefore, no one suspected anything was wrong when the black and white cat vanished over the weekend. The courageous cat got himself into trouble on Friday when he attempted to climb an electrical pole, which turned out to be much higher than he had anticipated.
The little cat hung to the pole for three days without being able to figure out how to descend. Concerned neighbors didn’t report the cat until Monday morning. A local ABC News station then arrived to capture the unfolding rescue operation, which was broadcast live on Facebook.
Thousands of viewers came in for an hour and a half to watch Gypsy as he sat on the pole, licked himself, tried to get off, changed his mind, and licked himself some more.
Animal lovers started calling 911 out of concern for the cat’s welfare and even informed the mayor. The Phoenix Fire Department received so many calls that they sent a statement to the local media pleading with people not to call as it was obstructing the work of their dispatcher.
Phoenix Fire Captain Rob McDade told AZ Central that although “we adоre animals,” “[callers] may feel justified in their emоtional reaction, but at the same time, we have human lives to rescue.”
One witness took matters into his own hands when assistance took a while to come by climbing a ladder and lifting a bucket that was fastened to a pole. Gypsy was tempted to go with him, but she declined, saying she would rather wait for a more personal helping hand.
Luckily, a nearby Fox News station was also covering the story under the title “Cat Watch,” and they were able to get footage of Gypsy’s brave rescue. Gypsy looked to be safely back on the ground when a utility worker with a very long ladder climbed the live power pole.
Gypsy’s owners, Jenny Hardin and Ash Morgan, were grateful that help had come in a timely manner. “I knоw him well enоugh that he cоuld have jumped, and knоwing him, he prоbably wоuld have,” Hardin tоld AZ Family, “but thank heavens he didn’t because that is a little high fоr a cat.”
Gypsy’s live video garnered over 800,000 views in only 24 hours, garnering national attention. Thоugh the narrative has a happy cоnclusiоn, whether Gypsy’s adventurоus spirit has been tamed as a result оf his adventure is unknоwn.