PELHAM, N.H. --
Firefighters were able to free a 9-month-old cat from a storm drain after working for eight hours and bringing in the Jaws of Life.
According to the cat's owner, Tripp was found stuck in a Pelham storm drain early Wednesday morning.
"Only his head was above the drain," said owner Melinda Bastoni. "The rest of his body was underneath it."
The family said the cat may have been stuck since Tuesday night.
Firefighters from Windham and Pelham, as well as a certified veterinarian, were called out to Pineridge Road to help free the cat.
The cat's head was wedged so tightly, emergency crews had a tough time getting him free.
"We tried saws, plasma cutters, the Jaws of Life," said Lt. John Ignatowicz of the Pelham Fire Department. "It just wouldn't touch it. It was such hard material."
Rescuers gave oxygen to the cat to help sustain it as they worked on a solution.
Firefighters eventually were able to cut a small portion of the grate apart and transport the cat to an emergency animal hospital. The cat was sedated as officials searched for the perfect tool to free the animal.
After several hours, Tripp was freed from the grate.
He is now back home in Pelham recovering. Aside from some missing fur, his family said he seems to be doing fine.
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