Cat stuck in drainpipe at Horsham Amcal pharmacy resists rescue after more than a week on the roof

A kitten has resisted rescue after being stuck on the roof and in the drainpipe of Horsham Amcal Pharmacy for a week.

Horsham PAWS president Penny Stemp and Horsham Rural City Council ranger Jason Brady attempted to coax the cat down on Tuesday, but the feline stayed firm despite the offer of food.

Horsham Amcal owner Bianca Inkster said staff became aware of the cat on December 24 but couldn't get council assistance because the office was closed for the Christmas and New Year break.

"We heard it miaowing and I got on the roof and tried to get it down," she said. "I've had customers coming in constantly telling me I have a cat in my drainpipe but there's nothing I can do.

"(The cat) has just been up there squawking for a week. I think it has been surviving on water from the air conditioner."

Mr Brady was in the midst of collecting dogs that had escaped during the storm on Monday night when he got a call from Mrs Stemp to help.

"For us as a rule we don't normally come out (for cat rescues)," he said. "But I'm happy to help."

Temperatures in Horsham have reached more than 40 degrees in the week that the cat has been on the roof and in the pipe. Mrs Stemp said it was "probably not a bad place to be in the heat".

There were suggestions from the people at the rescue attempt that the cat should be named Lucky.

As of Tuesday afternoon the kitten was still in the drainpipe but Mrs Stemp had called her husband Brendan Stemp to bring some tools to try to help Mr Brady bring the cat out.

"The kitten has now at least eaten, and we will continue to work on getting it to safety," she said. "Big shout out to Jason at Horsham Rural City Council for going above and beyond today to help us try and rescue it.

"He's gone back and rigged up a ramp leading over to the balcony and they've set the trap up there. Hopefully we will be able to get it into care very soon."

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