Arlington Heights firefighters rescue kitten after 40-foot fall

On the evening before Thanksgiving, Arlington Heights resident Becky noticed that her beloved Ragdoll kitten Blue Cheese was missing from their home on the sixth floor of their high-rise building.

Becky sprang into action and discovered Blue had sneaked onto their balcony and had fallen off, falling 40 feet and landing on the roof of an adjacent building.

Becky called his name and he meowed back, but she couldn't safely reach him. She called 911 to ask for help and the Arlington Heights Fire Department answered. Firefighters were able to safely rescue Blue Cheese from the roof and reunite him with his family.

After an emergency vet visit, Becky was happy to report that Blue had only sustained a slight bruise and he was cleared to go home.

Recently, the Arlington Heights firefighters who helped with the rescue reunited with Becky and Blue Cheese. Becky thanked them for their assistance, and even presented a donation for the Chicagoland Toys for Tots in Blue's name.

"We're grateful Becky thought to call us and to not put herself in harm's way when trying to retrieve Blue Cheese. If Becky, or someone else tried to access the roof to get to the cat, then things could have been a lot worse. This was the smart and safe way to solve the situation," said Arlington Heights Firefighter Paramedic Bill Casper.

"Plus, after 16 years on the job, I can finally say I helped rescue a kitten."

Firefighters are reminding residents that no matter what the unique circumstance, to always call 911 if you encounter an unsafe situation.