John DeBacker, popularized as "Catman," successfully rescued a cat named Lola who had been trapped upside down in a wall for nearly a week in her family's home in Franklin Square, New York. The rescue took place last Friday, two weeks after Lola crawled under a floorboard during a move from the second floor of their apartment.
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Initially, DeBacker set a trap with food and cameras to lure Lola out, but she evaded capture, and eventually stopped appearing altogether. Upon investigation, they discovered she had fallen and was stuck behind a first-floor wall. By the time DeBacker and his team found her, Lola was trapped upside down, eating insulation and showing signs of weakness.
On the day of the rescue, DeBacker, with assistance from a contractor, began by cutting a hole in the wall with an electric saw. They used an endoscopic camera to locate Lola, who appeared nervous. To avoid scaring her further, they switched to a quieter drill. DeBacker reached through the narrow opening and, after carefully maneuvering, managed to pull Lola out.
Once freed, Lola was visibly dusty and exhausted, and she was immediately taken to an emergency vet where it was discovered she had insulation inside her. Although Lola is now back with her family, she is experiencing a poor appetite, and they are monitoring her health. DeBacker, who has been rescuing cats for over 15 years, cautioned other cat owners to secure their pets before moving, to prevent incidents like this from happening.