Franklin Square, New York — A Long Island cat rescue turned into a race against time after a frightened cat spent about five days trapped upside down behind a wall with no food or water. The cat, named Lola, was eventually pulled to safety by a longtime animal rescuer whose family now considers him their own real-life “Catman.”
John DeBacker was wearing his “Catman” T-shirt when he and his rescue team were called to help Lola, who had disappeared inside her family’s former second-floor apartment in Franklin Square while they were moving out.
What initially appeared to be a difficult search became far more serious after Lola disappeared completely.
Cat Disappears During Family’s Move
Lola’s ordeal began about two weeks before she was rescued. While the family was moving out of the apartment, Lola managed to squeeze underneath a floorboard and disappear from sight.
DeBacker, who has been rescuing cats for at least 15 years, was brought in to help locate her. His team initially tried using a food trap and cameras to lure Lola into a safe location. The plan appeared promising because the cat would emerge at night.
But Lola repeatedly avoided the trap. Then she stopped appearing altogether. The rescuers eventually discovered that she had fallen farther into the building and become trapped behind a first-floor wall.
Lola Was Trapped Upside Down
When DeBacker and his team finally located Lola, the situation was far more serious than they had expected. The cat was trapped upside down, apparently having been stuck in that position for much of the five-day period.
She had begun eating insulation and was becoming increasingly weak. DeBacker admitted that he was losing hope that the frightened cat would survive long enough to be rescued.
But last Friday, the team finally found a way to reach her.
With help from a contractor, rescuers began carefully cutting an opening into the wall with an electric saw. They then used an endoscopic camera to look inside and locate Lola.
The cat appeared nervous, raising concerns that loud equipment could frighten her farther into the wall. The team changed tactics and switched to a quieter drill.
“After two weeks we did not want to lose the cat again,” he said.
Rescuers Carefully Pull Her to Safety
Video of the dramatic rescue shows DeBacker reaching through the narrow opening and making contact with Lola’s hind legs. He then shifted into a standing position, carefully moved his weight backward and slowly pulled the exhausted cat out of the wall.
For the rescuers, those few moments were critical. Once Lola was finally free, a woman could be heard celebrating:
“Safe!”
The dusty and exhausted cat was immediately placed into a towel-lined crate. After spending days trapped in darkness, Lola was finally out. For DeBacker, the successful rescue brought an overwhelming sense of relief.
“We were all so happy,” he said.
Cat Survives Five Days Without Food or Water
DeBacker said Lola’s survival was remarkable given the circumstances.
“It’s pretty miraculous that the cat survived there five days with no food or water,” DeBacker said. “And when you’re upside-down, all the blood is rushing to your head.”
Lola was taken to an emergency veterinarian following the rescue. According to DeBacker, veterinarians found insulation inside her body, likely from what she had been eating while trapped.
She has since returned home to her family but is still struggling with a poor appetite.
Her family has continued taking her to the veterinarian as they try to determine what is causing the ongoing problem and help her recover from the ordeal.
“Catman” Has a Warning for Other Pet Owners
DeBacker knows firsthand how quickly a move can become dangerous for a nervous cat. He has four cats of his own and urged other pet owners to take extra precautions when moving to a new home.
His advice is simple: keep cats secure before the moving process begins rather than waiting until the furniture and boxes are already being moved.
“Secure the cats first and not after all the moving. The moving will scare the cat into hiding.”
For Lola’s family, the warning comes after a terrifying experience that could have ended very differently.
Instead, after disappearing for nearly two weeks and spending five days trapped upside down inside a wall, Lola is back with the people who were desperately searching for her.
And thanks to DeBacker and his rescue team, the Long Island cat now has another chance to recover.
Have you ever had a pet disappear during a move or hide somewhere you never expected? Share your story in the comments and let us know how you found them.
