Kind-hearted sign hangers spent two hours Tuesday rescuing a young cat that had spent at least three days stuck in a tall pine tree off Riverside Road near Bigfork.

The 9-month-old female kitten has been named Lucky Socks and is expected to make a full recovery after the ordeal.

Sheila Leineweber visited her mother’s home on Sunday and found that a black cat had gotten itself stuck in the top of a 60-foot-tall pine tree.

“The branch she was on was about an inch in diameter,” Leineweber said. “She was literally in the very top of this skinny pine.”

The cat remained in the tree until Tuesday, when Leineweber became very concerned about the creature’s health.

“I was convinced this cat was going to freeze to death or starve to death,” Leineweber said. “She was terrified.”

Leineweber called several different agencies for help but was unsuccessful until someone suggested that she call Western Neon Signs in Kalispell.

Employee Daniel Therrien was ready to call it a day and head home when the call for help came in.

“They called about the cat and I just couldn’t go home knowing I had not done the right thing,” Therrien said. “I don’t even care for cats, but I love people and it would have bothered me knowing someone was out there hurting for this cat.”

Therrien and girlfriend Victoria Hasson took the company’s 45-foot-tall bucket truck to the property and attempted to lure the cat down. The truck was not quite tall enough to reach the animal. Hasson and Therrien tied branches together to make a makeshift ramp covered in food to lure the kitty down.

After two hours, it was not looking good for the rescue effort. The cat was trying to reach the ramp, but was too scared and weak to make the leap.

“I had to hold the branches over my head a long time while the cat became familiar with it,” Therrien said. “I was starting to loose strength and I was afraid I would drop the cat if she did make it onto the branches.”

The cat made one final push onto the branches and to safety.

Therrien said workers at Western Neon Signs can recall only four cat rescues in the family-run business’s 69-year history.

“It’s not common,” he said.

Lucky Socks was set for a veterinarian appointment on Wednesday. Leineweber was ready to make the cat a part of her family and was thankful that Western Neon Signs helped rescue the feline free of charge.

“I took it as a miracle, because I don’t think this cat would have made it otherwise,” Leineweber said.

Reporter Megan Strickland may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at [email protected].