A MOTHER is protesting to animal welfare charity RSPCA after it refused to rescue her daughter's cherished kitten from a three-and-a-half day ordeal, reports Karen Barden.

Michelle Andrews said the Kendal office would not respond to her SOS after squirrel-chasing Jasper got himself stuck, 40ft up a fir tree in Fletcher Park.

Her distraught daughter Sophie, 12, had to watch helplessly as her stranded pet cried pitifully day and night.

Mrs Andrews said she pleaded with both the RSPCA and Fire Brigade to bring the distressed feline down to safety.

"The RSPCA said they wouldn't come until Jasper had been up the tree for four days and the fire service said they could only respond to an RSPCA call out," said Mrs Andrews.

Neighbours in Sunnyside, Kendal, were kept awake at night with the cat's howls.

"Sophie was inconsolable, she was on half-term and saw it all," said her mum.

"In the end my husband, who is a keen DIY enthusiast, borrowed a ladder and climbed up to get Jasper.

We couldn't stand it any longer."

Mrs Andrews has since written to the RSPCA, complaining of her treatment from the Kendal office.

Chief Inspector Nick Welch said he had been away last week and was unaware of the incident, but would be making inquiries.

"There is no four-day rule, each case is dealt with separately," he explained.

"Ninety per cent of cats stuck up trees get themselves down when they are hungry enough.

Sometimes, if you try to rescue them they are so terrified they leap when you get near."

The chief inspector said young cats had to learn the technique of reversing down trees for themselves.

"Normally, in a situation like this, I would go out and assess what was happening," he said.

RSPCA headquarters' spokeswoman Emma Nutbrown confirmed there was no four-day rule and the policy was that cats should be encouraged to get themselves out of difficulties.

"While we like to help wherever possible, we are a welfare charity and not a rescue service," she said.

Sub officer Bruce Greenbank from Kendal Fire Station confirmed the service responded to RSPCA referrals.

"They do the bidding," he said.