Richard and Elizabeth Oswald kept a near round-the-clock watch on their three-year-old male cat, Misho, who got out Sunday and found his way about 50 feet up a tree in the park by John Tonelli Sports Centre.

He was found the following morning, but refused to be coaxed down.

“He just wasn’t coming down; we were pretty nervous and scared,” said Elizabeth of her indoor cat, who got out when she opened the door to throw out a snail she’d found in her kitchen. “It’s like having a kid. You worry about them (pets) too.”

The Oswalds’ dilemma soon drew the attention of a number of helpful area residents, including one who loaned them a ladder.

The stubborn tree climber finally climbed far enough down the tree that Richard was able to use the ladder — held steady by Elizabeth and a neighbourly woman out walking her dog — and snag him Wednesday morning.

Reunited with fellow feline Prince — the more reserved member of the family — Misho was a little hungry and frazzled, but no worse for wear.

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on him from now on, that’s for sure,” said Elizabeth, who needed the help of a local tree doctor to rescue Misho from a similar scenario just a month ago.

“The positive thing about all this is we got a lot of help from some awesome people. I guess this is the way to get to know your neighbours, because we all have pets.”