CAT-ASTROPHE PREVENTED AS NEIGHBOR RESCUES FRIGHTENED FELINE FROM TREE.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

The cat is back.

Temi, the Siamese who sneaked out of the house Aug. 8 and ended up stranded atop a 50-foot pine tree, finally was carried down by a caring neighbor early Thursday morning.

Now that the tan-and-brown indoor cat is back in the house, she seems totally oblivious to the whole ordeal, Temi's owner said.

``She's fine. She's eating fine,'' said Kevin. ``It's almost like nothing happened, except she's following me even more closely.''

The owner withheld his last name, saying his boss would never forgive him for calling in sick one day to help his cat.

He had called the Fire Department and a private tree company to rescue Temi, but learned that would have cost hundreds of dollars. Meanwhile, he had sprayed water up into the tree to keep the cat quenched and cool.

``I was pretty nervous,'' he said. ``I was worried about her health, being up there in that tree.''

Though bright lights Thursday from a news crew who came to capture Temi on tape first caught the cat's attention, the real hero of the day was a man who identified himself only as Fred.

Fred had tried a few times to climb a ladder to reach Temi, but it wasn't until Thursday - when the cat walked down a few branches to about 25 feet - that he was able to rescue the young feline.

``I like that cat,'' Fred said. ``I didn't want to see her die up there.''

The cat crisis drew neighbors from up and down the block each day, neighbor Camille Ramirez said. And everyone offered a suggestion for getting Temi down.

One person had even recommended holding a piece of stinking fish to a fan and luring the cat down with its smell.

``It's the most excitement that this street has seen in awhile, believe me,'' Ramirez said.