This cool cat had firefighters playing feline snakes and ladders after getting stuck up a tree for three days.

Crews from Norbury Fire Station who were preparing to climb up to rescue the cat were stunned when the kitty made its own way down the ladder they had pitched in Thornton Heath.

However, after a slow descent down the nine metre ladder instead of falling in to the arms of firefighters it ran off without even a ‘thank you’ meow.

Previous attempts to lure the kitty down from the tree in Harcourt Road had failed so residents called in Stepping Stone Rescue based in Wellington to assist but they couldn’t get the cat down either. 

They alerted the RSPCA who arrived in an hour but also failed to coax down the feline and realising it was well and truly stuck called in the Fire Brigade.

In a post on Facebook Stepping Stone Rescue said: “They were amazing! They decided to take the massive ladder off the top of the engine and placed it up to where the cat was. But before anyone could get on the ladder the cat decided it couldn’t wait any longer and came down the ladder by itself. 

“Everyone was just stunned as we watched the cat come down, then just ran off. He seemed fit and well. We just hope he was running off home to a decent meal and family.”

A Fire Brigade spokesman said: “The last thing we want is for people to put themselves at risk rescuing an animal themselves – but we do encourage people to call the RSPCA in the first instance and we will assist if our specialist equipment is required, as in this case.”