'Don't call us for cats stuck in trees', Fire Brigade warns But with the ongoing financial pressures affecting all public services, the London Fire Brigade is asking people to make the RSPCA their first port of call in future. London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "It is time to dispel the old stereotype about firefighters rescuing cats from trees, our crews are highly trained emergency service personnel. If there is a cat up a tree, or an animal stuck anywhere, the first port of call should always be the RSPCA, not the emergency services. He added: "Pet owners need to keep a close eye on their animals in a bid to avoid some of these situations happening. What's worrying is that when firefighters are out rescuing animals, they're not available to attend real emergencies. Each animal rescue costs money and in these tough financial times, many people question why their taxes are being spent on some of the animal rescues we've highlighted. Klare Kennett, of the RSPCA, the animal welfare charity also advised people to call them first, stressing they would then be able to make a decision whether to call on the services of a fire crew. She also said it was important not to overreact in some situations as animals often escaped unaided. She explained: "If you see a cat up a tree, we'd advise you to leave it for 24 hours before calling the RSPCA as they usually manage to get themselves down. After all, when was the last time you saw a cat's skeleton up a tree? Currently more than half the animal rescues fire crews are called to in London involve cats and around a quarter are to help dogs in distress. Here are some of the more unusual requests London Fire Brigade have been asked to deal with in recent years. :: Rescue an iguana from a roof in Tower Hamlets in May 2007; :: A parrot trapped in its cage in Waltham Forest in January 2008; :: A dog stuck in a wheelchair in a flat in Richmond in May 2008; :: A puppy with its head stuck in an exercise machine in a house in Hillingdon in April 2008; :: A kitten with its head stuck in a bongo drum in Newham in October 2009; :: Capture a snake at a retirement home in Hounslow in July 2009; :: Two dogs in a toilet in Bromley in July 2009; :: A chimp in a chimney in Tower Hamlets in January 2010; :: An adult hamster trapped in a disabled lift in Greenwich in April 2010; :: A kitten trapped in a reclining chair in Croydon in May 2012.