AFTER being trapped for three nights in a drain running underneath the streets of Llanarth, Maxine the cat has probably used up most of her nine lives.
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The 17-year-old cat, who belongs to Josh Pont, ran off after being frightened by lightning on Saturday.
Despite an enormous effort from NSW Police, firefighters and the SES, she resisted all rescue attempts until Tuesday morning, when the smell of her favourite cat food was enough to coax her far enough out of the drain to be rescued.
Josh said Maxine has only been in Bathurst for about three months, but has been happy to hang around the front yard, and loves lying in the sun in the neighbour’s garden.
Josh was away on Saturday night, but was told by family members Maxine was last seen lying out the front when a massive thunder clap occurred and she ran off.
“We couldn’t find her and couldn’t hear her,” he said.
“On Sunday I was back and I walked around calling her name and then I heard her ‘meow’.
“She was down the drain; we all tried to get her, but we couldn’t get to her, so we called the police.
“They sent Police Rescue, and the SES and firies were there for hours.
“They were there on Sunday night, but Maxine was too frightened.
“When we called her, she came up to about three metres away, but when the rescuers tried to call her, she ran off up the drain and they couldn’t get to her.”
On Monday, Josh went back to where Maxine was last seen.
“We were calling her, but got no reply, and we thought the worst.
“She’s 17 years old and we thought the fright of the night before might have taken its toll.”
Josh went back Tuesday morning and still there was no sign of Maxine.
He then went to look in a drain off Darwin Drive, called out Maxine’s name, and he heard her “meow”.
“I called the police again and Troy [Klower] got back down into the pipes again.
“He and everyone who helped us was amazing; he showed me all the scratches he had from being down there the day before.
“They all did such an amazing job. We just wanted to thank them.”
Now back at home, Josh said Maxine hasn’t left the house.
“When she got home she had a big drink of water and two tins of cat food and she hasn’t left my bed since,” he said.
