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A Calgary family's cat, Tinku, was stranded on a utility pole for hours on Friday before Enmax crews shut off power to high-voltage lines and rescued him using an aerial bucket truck. The cat returned home safe with no injuries.
A Calgary family's cat is safe at home after spending hours stranded on a utility pole in the city's northeast on Friday. Ibtsam Ahmad said his cat, Tinku, escaped the family home at about 5 or 6 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Tinku's utility pole rescue
After about an hour of searching, the family found Tinku several metres in the air on a utility pole at 15 Templebow Rd. N.E. , near McKnight Boulevard, after hearing the cat's cries from above. Video from the scene showed Tinku cowering on the ledge, his grey and white fur rippling in the wind, with his right front paw dangling over the side.
Right away, Ahmad said the family sprang into action to get Tinku down. They called 311, Enmax, the Calgary Fire Department and Calgary police, and even went in person to the fire department. They also contacted a private arborist.
However, they were told little could be done due to the presence of live high-voltage wires. Ahmad said the family called the city's 311 line and 911, both of which recommended the family call Enmax. Though an Enmax worker attended the scene in the afternoon, the worker said there was nothing he could do to get the cat down. A fire crew advised the family that Enmax would need to respond.
Family frustration over response
Ahmad expressed frustration with the response. He said it is very frustrating, especially considering that tax dollars are going towards these services and they are not receiving even the basic level of service. He added that he is very, very disappointed in the system today. We called 311, we called Enmax, we called the fire department, Ahmad told CTV News earlier in the evening.
We even went in person to the fire department. On the ground, the family made a makeshift hammock to hopefully catch Tinku's fall, should the worst-case scenario occur. Ahmad said his family would remain outdoors to keep an eye on Tinku. He worried it could be a long night for his feline friend, saying the cat was already hungry and cold, and even he was cold.
Ahmad added that he was very scared for the night. Calgary Fire Department District Chief Dave Nelson said animal-related 911 calls are directed to the Calgary Police Service, which determines response priority. He said the police service is often overwhelmed with calls and will prioritize which calls to attend based on urgency. It can happen, Nelson said, that some calls do not get answered for a long time.
Emergency response and rescue
He said fire crews are only dispatched if requested by police. Nelson added the department was not aware of the situation until contacted by the media. A duty inspector officer with the Calgary Police Service said she was not aware of any calls made about a cat stuck on a pole. The City of Calgary and Enmax did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Later in the evening, fire crews returned to the scene and requested Enmax attend to assess the situation. In an email to CTV News, Enmax said a crew was on the way and would determine whether it was safe to attempt a rescue. These are high voltage lines so safety is critical for both our team and the cat, the company said, adding crews were also considering the potential impact of shutting off power to nearby homes.
Enmax confirmed that power to the line had been temporarily shut off and the cat was rescued at about 10:35 p.m. The circuit was then re-energized and we are back to normal operations. We are pleased to say the cat is home safe, the company said. Ahmad later told CTV News the cat was brought down using an aerial bucket truck. Once near the ground, Tinku jumped free and ran off before making his way back home. No injuries were reported.
CTVNewsVI
CP24:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Calgary Tinku Utility Pole Ibtsam Ahmad Calgary Fire Department Enmax Cat Rescue Calgary Cat Rescue Tinku Utility Pole Enmax Power Shutdown Animal Rescue
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