A cat owner has defended her decision to call out the fire brigade after her pet got trapped in a clothes dryer.

Crews were called to Lydia Road in Deal after the black and white kitten called Susie got stuck in the metal airer.

The mischievous moggy had been attempting to jump down from a window sill but her leg got tangled around the side mechanism of the device.

Susie appeared to be in a lot of distress, prompting her owner Martina Smith, 34, to call 999 for help.

She explained: “I wasn’t happy dialing 999 but she was in distress.

“She had been hanging for a good 20 minutes. Her leg was completely tangled. I attempted to free her but I couldn’t.”

“She had been hanging for a good 20 minutes. Her leg was completely tangled. I attempted to free her but I couldn’t...” - Martina Smith

The 17-week-old kitten was traumatised by the fall and rejected her owner's help, covering her in scratches.

The full time mum-of-three explained she had children aged two and three in the house that she couldn’t leave.

She said: “It did take all three of them (firefighters) to untangle her. They all had gloves on and their arms were completely covered.”

One fire engine carrying four firefighters attended the incident at 1.20pm yesterday.

Watch manager Craig Sheridan said: “We got there and untangled the cat from the clothes dryer and it scampered upstairs.

“It had a slight limp but had been hanging upside down on its leg for at least ten minutes.”

Miss Smith has thanked them for their actions.

She said: “The children are very happy that you saved their cat.”

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