I wanted to throttle him!!!

[spooky3]

I have a wonderful part Turkish Angora 2 year old cat. He is always looking for trouble and usually finding it. (I have two others who are more sedate.) All are rescue kitties. Tonight while I was attempting to send a long fax that ultimately failed protesting a doctor bill (grrr), he managed to climb into an open desk drawer behind my back. The opening between the top of the drawer and the bottom of the higher drawer was so narrow I don't know how he got in there and I could not get him out. The desk is new and the screws in the drawer glides were so tight I could not get all of them out so that I could pull the drawer all the way out. My neighbors are asleep so I couldn't call them for help. Of course the cat started feeling trapped and chewing on the drawer. I called the non-emergency police # but no one answered, so I called 911, but they refused to come out, even though I told them I understood it was a weird emergency but it would take only a few minutes for someone with stronger hands than I have to get the final screws out. They referred me to animal welfare, so I called them but had to leave a message. While waiting for them to call me back, with increasing panic, I kept trying the other screws and finally I was able to get enough of them out to tip the drawer far enough downward and then bribe my scared kitty to come out with some food. However, of course, now I can't get all the screws back in properly and will have to call the furniture store to help me put it back together. Fortunately I was able to shove it far enough closed that my troublemaker won't be able to get back in.

Do they have a manual to drive us crazy????

I'm going out of the country in a couple of days and I was just thinking today, PLEASE none of you kitties have any emergencies because I don't have time before I have to leave, to deal with anything unexpected! But I was thinking about vet visits, not creative ways of getting oneself trapped!

By the way I do love him but I didn't need this grief tonight!!!!

[Why Syzygy]

1. That's funny!

Lately I'm always thinking about how easy cats are. I'm dealing with a Shih Tzu puppy and she literally wears me out.

She never slows down. She is ALWAYS excited. Life is just one big adventure for her. And she wants to make sure she includes me!
She is clever and into everything. It is bliss when she finally collapses into snores each night.

Sometimes my cat, Boogie, and I just sit and watch her circus show. :rofl: We are both amazed and amused. We look at each other with the same question in mind. What?
His swatting doesn't deter her in the least. For some odd reason, he has never learned to retract his claws. Have you ever seen such a thing? One of his swats resulted in a claw stuck in the hair on her ear. They were both on the bed. She was trying to pull away, and her eyes bulged. I'm really glad I was there to intervene. That's a bit worrisome.

[spooky3]

3. I know the personality!

You may want to try trimming Boogie's nails. It's easier if someone can hold him while you do the trimming.

[Why Syzygy]

4. Oh gosh.

That's a good idea, but I hesitate. He's the first cat I've ever had that likes to hold hands/paws.
He lets me touch, massage and hold them. Wonder if that would make him change his mind?

[emilyg]

2. One of mine got herself stuck

behind my dryer/washer. I'm a senior - don't have the strength pull appliances out. Had to call a friend to come over and help.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. why in the --- did you call any form of police and then 911?

those are for emergency business.

They are not your personal contractors.

You COULD have gone through the yellow pages and called a carpenter or handy man
instead of tying up resources intended for emergencies.

The 911 folks should charge you a fine or a penalty for making a non emergency call.

[spooky3]

6. It was nearly midnight. If you have a handyperson

Who you could get to come out within a short time please send me his/her #.
I'm certain if the emergency service agreed with you they would have said as much to me. Calling to request help in a very unusual situation is certainly not the same thing as demanding it. I pay very high taxes to live in this community; there is nothing wrong with seeking help in a very rare emergency. If I had not been able to get the screws out of the drawer I guess you would have been comfortable letting an animal stay trapped for at least 8 hrs.I would not.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. 911 is intended for human emergencies only

Yes the 911 operator was courteous to you - they are on a recorded line and have to be professional no matter what the nature of the call is.

But while the 911 operator was tied up with your call, someone needing an ambulence, some one reporting a major car wreck, someone reporting a rape, robbery or muirder might have had to wait until your call was handled. How much is the value of a human life or lives that may have been "on the line" waiting?

Five Worst Reasons to Call 911
911 Should Only be Called in an Emergency
By Rod Brouhard, About.com
Updated: October 29, 2008

911 was created as a universal American emergency number to summon police, ambulance, or fire service help. According to The National Emergency Number Association (NENA), approximately 200 million 911 calls are made in the U.S. each year.

Here are my picks for worst reasons to call 911. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find more and submit your own.

1. Testing to See if the Phone Works
911 will always be answered, but that doesn't mean it should be called. The California Highway Patrol is responsible for answering all wireless 911 calls made in California. Every year on Christmas morning, the CHP receives an increase in 911 calls from cell phones given as gifts. These calls take up valuable communication lines and may block emergency calls from making it to a dispatcher.
One reader claims his town sent out letters encouraging folks to call 911 to make sure their addresses came up correctly. He suggested everyone do the same. Other readers found that a very bad idea. To read their comments and submit your own, visit the First Aid Forum.

2. Getting the Number for the Police Department
When callers need a non-emergency number for police, fire, or ambulance, they should call 411, not 911. Any time a caller feels his or her life is in danger, he or she should call 911 - otherwise, use a nonemergency number.

3. To Ask the Police-Fire-Ambulance Agency a Question
If a caller is not in need of assistance immediately, 911 is probably the wrong number to call. When calling to ask a question and not to request immediate assistance, call the department's non-emergency number.

4. Teaching Kids to Call 911
While it is exremely important to teach kids to call 911, it's a really bad idea to actually have them do it when there is no emergency. Kids learn by example. If mom and dad seem to think it's OK to call 911 just to practice, then they will, too.

5. To Get a Cat Out of a Tree
Calling for help with animals in distress is perfectly fine - just don't call 911. Only call 911 regarding animals if the animal is endangering humans.
911 is intended for human emergencies only, all calls to request assistance for animals lost or in distress should go to an agency's non-emergency number. Do you have a story of 911 calls gone bad? Scroll down to the bottom of the page. There you'll be able to tell us about the worst reasons to call 911 and read about other bad ideas.

[badgerpup]

9. I've called 911 for non-emergency...

...told them right up front it was a non-emergency situation- but I needed some strong backs to help get a very large person in a wheelchair out of a van when the ramp malfunctioned and would not deploy.

They didn't have a problem with this. In fact, the fire dep't was very nice about it- showed up without lights, sirens and hullaballoo...which would have really added to embarrassment of situation.

OP :hi:...glad your hellbeast kitty is OK...they CAN be exasperating little darlings, can't they...:banghead:

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

10. did you by chance also call 911 about McDonalds messing up your order?

Because it would not surprise me one bit.

Click on the link below to hear how polite the 911 operator is
to this fracking idiot:

http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/030309_mcnuggets_2_1-2.mp3


Oh, and that "non emergency" you speak of involved a disabled person in a potentially threatening

"My cat is stuck in a drawer" is the kind of call you make if you don't give a shit
whether people with life threatening emergencies can get through to 911.

Sometimes a few seconds can make all of the difference, but selfish people
who abuse the system can do alot of harm.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. You called 911 cause your cat was in a drawer?

You're lucky you didn't get charged.