111 answers Bay kitty's cries for help

A 74-year-old woman dialled 111 after her pet cat fell down behind her pantry and got stuck.

Margaret Godfrey was cleaning her shower when she heard "an almighty bang" as Mickey the 6-year-old tomcat tumbled from the top of 2-metre pantry yesterday.

"I'm assuming he jumped up on to the bench where the electrical hobs are, and then he must have jumped up from there," she said.

After searching inside and outside the kitchen for the source of his cries, Mrs Godfrey realised where the cat was and called for help about 7.30am: "There was no way I could get him out. I rang 111 and explained what had happened and I apologised about calling about such a stupid thing."

Firefighters arrived at her home at Carmel Country Estate Retirement Village in Ohauiti but immediately ran into problems. Greerton station officer Paul van Kol said firefighters could hear it meowing down underneath.

The cat was able to move around behind the kickboard below the cupboards but firefighters could not find a way to get the cat out. They pulled out the dishwasher but after being unable to free it they called in a kitchen cabinet maker.

The cabinet maker was able to enlarge a small hole behind the dishwasher and Micky walked free.

"He was just his same old self," Mrs Godrey said.