A Long Island cat rescuer known as “Catman” helped bring a missing pet home after a harrowing ordeal inside the walls of an old family home.
For one Franklin Square family, John DeBacker’s patience and persistence turned a seemingly impossible situation into a lifesaving rescue.
Here’s what to know
By the time Lola was found, the Franklin Square cat had been the focus of an approximately two-week rescue effort. As ABC News reported, the ordeal began when her family, while moving out of an upstairs apartment, saw her slip beneath a floorboard and disappear into the house’s walls.
Their first approach was to wait for Lola to come back out. DeBacker set out food, cameras, and a trap, but although she emerged at night, she kept avoiding capture.
The rescue became more urgent when Lola stopped appearing. DeBacker determined that she had fallen behind a first-floor wall, where she was likely stuck upside-down, eating insulation and getting weaker.
A contractor then joined the effort as the team opened the wall and used a scope to pinpoint Lola’s location. Once they found her, they traded an electric saw for a quieter drill so she would not bolt deeper into the space.
“After two weeks we did not want to lose the cat again,” DeBacker said.
More background
Cats often seek out tight hiding places when frightened, and in older homes, those spaces can become life-threatening.
DeBacker, a Long Island rescuer with more than 15 years of experience working with cats, wore his trademark “Catman” T-shirt during the operation. Video from the rescue shows him reaching through the narrow opening, taking hold of Lola’s hind legs, and easing her out backward.
Afterward, Lola was taken to an emergency veterinarian, where DeBacker said insulation was found in her body. She has since returned to her family, but she is still struggling with a poor appetite as veterinarians try to determine what may be wrong.
What can be done?
Moves, renovations, and other chaotic changes at home can create risks for cats.
Keeping cats in a closed room or a secure carrier during stressful moments can help prevent them from slipping into dangerous spaces.
An animal may not be able to find its own way out. DeBacker’s team relied on cameras, traps, construction help, and a step-by-step approach rather than rushing in and risking a worse outcome.
When a pet is trapped in a wall, crawl space, or ceiling, professional assistance can make a major difference. Animal rescuers, contractors, and veterinarians can work together to improve the odds of a safe rescue while limiting further harm.
“It’s pretty miraculous that the cat survived there five days with no food or water,” DeBacker said. “And when you’re upside-down, all the blood is rushing to your head.”
Where can I learn more?
Lola’s story demonstrates how quickly cats can end up in dangerous places.
• In Greenville, North Carolina, teens chasing a wiffle ball found a missing emotional-support cat in a storm drain.
• In Colorado Springs, firefighters rescued a woman and cat after a 50-foot climb into a tree.
• In Galleywood, England, an indoor cat survived a 15-mile trip under a car before reuniting with family.
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