Purr-sistence pays off as Wisbech cat freed from cellar
After days of digging and careful planning, the Wisbech community came together to help a kitten, just a whisker away from disaster
Last updated 21st May 2025
A kitten has been rescued from beneath a shop in Wisbech after spending over a week trapped inside a ventilation pipe leading to a long-sealed cellar.
The meowing was first heard by members of the public on Friday 9 May near Market Place. Despite early efforts to coax the kitten out, it became clear that help was needed.
Animal Rescue Officer John Woods from the RSPCA and Emily Cole from the charity’s West Norfolk Branch led a multi-day rescue operation, joined by drainage experts from Dyno-Rod, DALROD Cambridge, and JW Drainage Services. Local shop owners and residents also assisted.
The kitten, now named William, had crawled into a pipe system that led to a disused cellar under the William Hill betting shop. The cellar had been sealed off and was not identified during initial searches.
Rescuers were given permission to dig up part of the shop’s floor, eventually uncovering a trap door that led into the cellar. But once inside, the frightened cat ran off again—wedging himself inside the wall behind the shop’s front window.
“It’s been quite a surreal few days – we literally tried everything we could to rescue this kitten – but every time there seemed to be a new challenge,” said John Woods.
“I literally cannot thank everyone involved enough – without such a team effort we would never have been able to get William out,” he added. “This is a rescue none of us will ever forget – but the fact everyone worked together for the sake of William is just so brilliant.”
After finally securing the kitten, he was taken to the RSPCA West Norfolk’s Eau Brink Rehoming Centre to recover.
“William is now at our centre and despite everything he’s been through he is doing well,” said Emily Cole. “He’s a little bit skinny but eating well but he’s obviously very nervous.
“We know he is probably the most famous cat in Wisbech right now – but we are not taking rehoming requests at the moment because he needs time to recuperate, recover and be assessed.”
Emily also thanked the public: “There is no way we could have done it without everyone’s help. The local community was just amazing and we just can’t thank everyone enough. We are just so glad that William was rescued and he would not have survived without the rescue.”
James Payne from JW Drainage Services said: “As cat owners we just wanted to do what we could to help and it certainly wasn’t a usual job for us! But we are so happy to rescue William we couldn’t bear the thought of him being trapped.”
The RSPCA has confirmed that William will remain under observation until he is strong enough to be assessed for rehoming.