Cat 'completely fine' after rescue from drainpipe

The owner of a cat who had to be rescued from a drainpipe said she was "relieved" her pet is fine, and has thanked firefighters for their help.

Cassie, from Clevedon in Somerset, said her female cat John snuck into the garage when she was unloading her car on Friday night.

On Saturday morning when John did not show up for breakfast, Cassie checked in the garage - where she could only see her head "poking out" of the pipe in the ceiling.

She called Avon Fire and Rescue Service, who sent a crew from Clevedon Fire Station to perform the rescue.

John is completely fine, her owner Cassie said

John was found firmly stuck in the drainpipe

"It seemed so extreme," Cassie added. "But I suppose it was that extreme, she was stuck. I needed her to be OK."

The firefighters cut out the section of pipe the one-year-old cat was stuck in.

They then drove her in their fire engine over to Vets4Pets Clevedon.

"The looks we got in the waiting room when we walked through with the cat stuck in a pipe and the firefighters - it was funny," Cassie said.

Members of the fire crew had to carefully cut John out of the pipe before the vet made sure she was not in pain.

"They [the firefighters] were really careful and put her wellbeing first," Cassie added.

Firefighters had to saw the pipe to get John out of it once at the vet

By the time John was safely back home, the story had made headlines around the country and beyond.

"I took her back home and she had a nap on me. We had a cuddle," said Cassie.

"When she woke up I picked up my phone and saw she'd blown up online. I didn't realise she'd get so much attention."

She also explained the mystery of John having a male name.

"My son is obsessed with the name John," she said. "If I ask him to name something, it's always John."