Plumber finds get-out claws for cat stuck behind pipes

But in this case, curiosity got the cat trapped behind a kitchen unit for 28 hours and in need of a team of experts to help him escape.

A plumber was eventually called to dismantle pipes to free the moggy – christened Piper as a result of his antics – from the kitchen of Andrew and Elaine Lyell in Juniper Green.

The drama unfolded after Piper wandered in through the cat flap, which was set to let pets inside only.

Andrew, 52, an accountant, said: “When I saw him in the kitchen at breakfast he went berserk, ran up the curtains, pulled them down and ran in behind the washing machine.

“We knew we had a problem, because he was facing the wrong way and it was a very small space – it didn’t look as if he could get out of his own accord.

“Despite two visits by the Scottish SPCA with gloves, cat food and catching equipment, he stayed wedged there.

“We put food down to try to coax him out, but it didn’t work, so we decided to leave him overnight and thought in the dark he might decide to come out.

“But he somehow managed to turn around in the very narrow space and got his face wedged between the pipes.

“My worst-case scenario was the fire brigade coming and taking the kitchen units apart.” On day two of the incident, it was decided drastic action had to be taken to help the furry prisoner.

The Scottish SPCA sent another two officers to the house and a plumber from Scottish Gas was called, who spent about 20 minutes taking the pipe fittings out.

Andrew, who had to take two days off work to deal with the incident, said: “There was an almighty scarper when he was lifted free and then the ungrateful cat just shot off.”

The incident could have left the Lyells hundreds of pounds out of pocket, but it was covered by the Scottish Gas Homecare Service.

“It’s the second time the cat has been in our house, he’s pulled down the curtains before,” said Andrew.

“My wife called him Piper, but I wanted to call him Berserker, because to be honest I wouldn’t want to meet him again.”

Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer Steph Grant said: “We were called to rescue a cat who had entered a house in Edinburgh and become trapped behind a kitchen unit.

“Due to its position, the cat was extremely difficult to reach and a plumber had to remove two pipes to allow us access.

“Thankfully, after our continued efforts, we were able to free this cat and release it unharmed.”