Cat rescued from I-94 overpass in Ypsilanti Township
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Images from Michigan's 41-30 win over Notre Dame under the lightsA cat is seen sitting on a concrete pylon under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
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A cat is seen sitting on a concrete pylon under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
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A cat is seen sitting on a concrete pylon under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_04_fullsize.jpg
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A cat is seen sitting on a concrete pylon under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_05_fullsize.jpg
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A cat is seen sitting on a concrete pylon under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_02_fullsize.jpg
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Ann Arbor firefighter Lieutenant Keith Harr climbs a ladder as firefighter Steve Hubbard looks on as they prepare to rescue a stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
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Ann Arbor firefighter Lieutenant Keith Harr climbs a ladder to rescue a stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_07_fullsize.jpg
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Ann Arbor firefighter Lieutenant Keith Harr holds a stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_08_fullsize.jpg
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Ann Arbor firefighter Lieutenant Keith Harr holds a stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_09_fullsize.jpg
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Ann Arbor firefighter Lieutenant Keith Harr puts a stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 into a carrier for an HSHV investigator Elise Ramsey as firefighter Steve Hubbard looks on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
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A stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 has a new temporary home at the Humane Society of Huron Valley on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_11_fullsize.jpg
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A stray cat found under an overpass along I-94 has a new temporary home at the Humane Society of Huron Valley on Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
/calendar/photologue/photos/01 Kitty/cache/060612_NEWS_Kitty_I94_12_fullsize.jpg
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Red arrow points to where a stray cat was found hiding under and overpass along I-94 on Tuesday afternoon. Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Huron Valley
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Firefighters this afternoon rescued a young calico cat from the Grove Road overpass above the rushing traffic of Interstate 94 in Ypsilanti Township.
Cruelty investigators from the Humane Society of Huron Valley were contacted by a woman running in a park near the Grove Road overpass who heard a cat meowing loudly.
When they arrived on scene around 2:45 p.m., they saw the cat found her way to perch on top of a concrete pylon that holds up the overpass on the eastbound side of I-94.
The cruelty investigators couldn’t reach the cat by themselves - so they enlisted the help of the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department.
Elise Ramsey, one of the cruelty investigators for the humane society that responded to the call, said she was struck by the cat’s bravery.
When approached by Ypsilanti Township Fire Lt. Keith Harr, rather than run away, the cat was friendly and ready to come down off her perch.
“I thought for sure once the firefighter got up there that she was going to be scared and try to get away,” Ramsey said. “She was so interested in getting down and kind of just stole my heart.”
I-94 is three lanes wide on the eastbound side at the Grove Road overpass.
"Most cats find their way down, but I was afraid she was going to find her way down into traffic," Harr said.
The cat is healthy and between 11 months and 1 year old, Ramsey said, and wasn’t injured in the incident.
The cat will be held at the humane society for four days to allow an owner to claim her, and then she will go up for adoption.
The cat does not have a microchip, and has not been de-clawed.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
RJA
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 3:45 a.m.
Sweet cat and great rescue! Thanks to all involved.
fjord
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
She's a beautiful cat. I hope she finds a home as soon as possible. I'd adopt her myself, but my two cats don't take kindly to strangers. This cat may now have an advantage — surely someone will adopt her because of this news story — but please remember that there are always plenty of other beautiful cats at the Humane Society who would make great companions and would love to come home with you!
grimmk
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 4:01 a.m.
Wow! What a beauty! And what an amazing rescue! Thank you to all who played their part! The world needs more of you! I'll agree with everyone else that she is indeed a Tortie due to her lack of white. But either way she's beautiful. I hope she finds a wonderful home!
jaynecat
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
This is a wonderful story, but how is the fact that the cat is not declawed relevant? How random.
jaynecat
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.
I guess it seems to me that the many photographs would be enough for anyone missing their tortie near that location to contact HSHV. That fact just seemed out of place with the rest of the article. Then again, the writing on this site is usually marginal at best.
buzz
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.
If someone is looking for their cat, these facts may help them identify her, also. Thanks, fire department and HSHV!
Ariel
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:26 p.m.
These are also important facts for people that are interested in adopting her.
ypsicat
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 3:58 a.m.
Cats should never be declawed; they need their claws for their psychological health. There are many ways to indulge your cat's need to scratch without removing this most intrinsic part of them. That being said, it's always nice to read of firefighters rescuing kitties!
Ann Dwyer
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 3:17 a.m.
I think it's a clue that she may not have had a home. Not a definite clue, but had it been declawed, then it was definitely a pet.
stihl1
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 1:19 a.m.
Thanks to the firefighters for getting it down, and the Humane Society for stepping in to take care of it.
Susan Karp
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
Elise Ramsey is a cruelty officer for The Humane Society of Huron Valley, so that is where this cat will be available for adoption if it isn't reunited with the owner. HSHV will spay or neuter, microchip, and give all necessary shots before making the cat available for adoption. The shelter is located at 3100 Cherry Hill Rd. Ann Arbor 734-662-5585 www.hshv.org Hours: noon-6pm 7 days/week.
chipper
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
Actually she looks more like a dilute tortoiseshell than a calico. Torties are typically great cats with a lot of personality (I'm on my second). May she find a loving home. Thank you very much to Lt. Harr for rescuing her!
JMA2Y
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.
It's a dilute tortie. I have two and she looks similar to both.
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:30 p.m.
Thank goodness the fire department stepped in. Just recently I was commenting on the unsightly cat skeletons I see in overpasses and trees and such all over town.
bobslowson
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.
Not funny at all nick....
City Confidential
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:47 a.m.
The article pointed out that the cat could easily have ended up in traffic if it had gotten down the wrong way. This was not a "cat in a tree" that would get down on its own. This was a good story about a good deed by dedicated public service personnel and I appreciate it.
Anna
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.
Hi, Amy! What a beautiful cat! Can you confirm if the "humane society" cited is the Huron Valley location?
Anna
Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:50 a.m.
Thank you, Amy!
Amy Biolchini
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:44 p.m.
Yes, it's the Humane Society of Huron Valley -- http://www.hshv.org/site/PageServer?pagename=index.