Cats are brilliant climbers going up — but their claws curve the wrong way for climbing down. When your cat has been treed by a dog, spooked up a live oak, or simply climbed higher than its courage, hours turn into a genuinely dangerous situation: dehydration, exhaustion, and exposure set in fast, especially in Texas heat. And despite the cartoons, fire departments across Tarrant County and DFW no longer perform cat rescues.
DFW Tree Guys does. Our certified arborists climb trees for a living, and we bring the same rope-and-harness technique to cat rescues that we use on every tree job — no ladders leaned against limbs, no shaking, no risky improvisation. We rope in, approach slowly, secure your cat in a soft rescue bag, and bring it down gently. Most rescues take 30–60 minutes on site, and we answer the phone 24/7, because cats don't check the clock.
Pricing is one simple flat fee: $350, day or night, anywhere in our DFW service area — and if we can't reach your cat, you don't pay. Facing hardship? Ask about our donation-based rescues. No cat stays in a tree over money. While we're up there, we'll also give your tree's canopy a quick health check, on the house.
What's Included
- 24/7 phone response — honest free advice first (many cats come down on their own; we'll tell you if yours likely will)
- Rope-and-harness climbing that reaches limbs no ladder can
- Soft rescue-bag technique that keeps your cat calm and secure
- One flat fee: $350 — days, nights, weekends & holidays
- If we can't reach your cat, you don't pay
- Free canopy health check of the tree while we're up there
How It Works
- Call — free advice first. Tell us how long the cat's been up, how high, and what happened. If it'll likely come down on its own, we'll say so for free.
- We dispatch a climber. A certified arborist rolls from our Fort Worth or Southlake crew with full climbing gear — firm flat price before we leave.
- The gentle climb. We rope into the tree, approach slowly, and secure your cat in a soft rescue bag. No ladders on limbs, no shaking.
- Back in your arms. Cat comes down safe, you get the reunion photo, and your tree gets a free canopy health check while we're up there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a cat survive stuck in a tree?
Healthy cats can survive several days, but they weaken fast without water — especially in Texas heat. Dehydration, exhaustion, and exposure set in within 24–48 hours, and a weakened cat is more likely to fall. If your cat has been up more than a few hours and can't get down, call a professional rather than waiting it out.
Will my cat come down on its own?
Sometimes — roughly three out of four cats find their own way down within a day. But if your cat has been up overnight, is crying continuously, is very young, old, or injured, or was chased up by a dog, it likely won't self-rescue. Call us and we'll give you an honest read for free.
Will the fire department get my cat down?
Almost never. Most departments across Tarrant County and DFW no longer do cat rescues — ladder trucks are reserved for human emergencies, and most trees can't be reached by ladder anyway. The right call is a certified arborist with rope-and-harness gear who can reach a cat on almost any limb.
How much does a cat rescue cost in Dallas–Fort Worth?
One flat fee: $350, any time of day or night, anywhere in our service area. No hourly meter, no after-hours surcharge, no surprise charges — and if we can't reach your cat, you don't pay.
Will the rescue hurt or scare my cat?
Cats are usually frightened at first, but our climbers move slowly, talk gently, and use a soft rescue bag so the cat rides down secure and calm. It's far safer than the alternatives — a fall, days of dehydration, or a night exposed to predators and weather.
What if the cat is in my neighbor's tree, or on public property?
We can still help. For a neighbor's tree we just need the owner's permission to climb — we'll help you ask. For public land, we coordinate with the city or property manager. Call us and we'll walk you through it.
Can you rescue a cat at night?
Yes — we answer 24/7 and climb with proper lighting. That said, if the cat is calm and safe we may recommend waiting for first light, since night rescues can panic a cat higher. You'll get an honest recommendation on the phone at no charge.
What should I do while I wait?
Keep dogs and crowds away from the tree, stop calling the cat (it can push them higher or trigger a jump), set strong-smelling food like tuna at the base, and keep eyes on the cat so we know which limb to climb to. Please don't attempt a ladder rescue — falls injure far more people than they save cats.
What areas do you cover for cat rescue?
We dispatch from White Settlement (west Fort Worth) and Southlake, covering Fort Worth, Benbrook, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Azle, Aledo, Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Colleyville, Westlake, and Trophy Club — and for cat emergencies we'll travel anywhere in the DFW metroplex. Not sure? Call: if we can't reach you fast enough, we'll refer you to someone who can.
Serving both locations: White Settlement & West Fort Worth and Southlake & Northeast Tarrant County.