A pawfect rescue as firefighters save three cats from burning building

Animals given specialist oxygen masks after ordeal

A cat receives oxygen after being rescued from a burning home in Sheffield (Sheffield Fire and Rescue Service)

It has been labelled a “pawfect” rescue: firefighters have been widely praised after saving three cats from a burning building in Sheffield.

Crews raced against time to pull the animals from the blazing house in the city’s Heeley district.

No-one was in the property as the fire – described as accidental and caused by a kitchen appliance – spread through the home.

But the animals were carried to safety after firefighters dealing with the flames realised they were there.

All three were given oxygen using specialist masks before being taken to a vets where they were given the all clear on Wednesday.

“Big well done to fire crews from Central, Birley Moor and Lowedges who have carried out a pawfect rescue,” South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said on its Twitter feed.

Praising the actions, an RSPCA spokesperson said: “The quick-thinking actions of the fire crews undoubtedly saved the cats which is great news."

They added: “We often work with the fire service and are sometimes called to assist in rescues involving animals.

"In this instance we were not called but we understand crews were able to get the cats out quickly and gave them vital oxygen so they were able to recover.”

The rescue, it turned out, was rather more straight-forward than another cat incident in Rochdale on Monday.

Firefighters were called to help an owner who had scaled a tree to help rescue his pet - only to become stuck 10 metres up himself.

Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service helped the man down using a specialist ladder as the animal watched the whole thing bemused – before hopping down by itself.

Stephen Wickham, an RSPCA animal rescuer called to the scene, said: “I have worked for the RSPCA for 25 years and in that time, I have been called to numerous cat rescues - but this is only the second time in my career I have been to a rescue where the poor owner had also got stuck up the tree too.”