Modou – The boy in the tree who found his way into a heart.

Some rescues are unforgettable! not just because of the danger, but because of the soul you meet on the other side of it. Modou’s story is one of those.

A quiet, shy street cat, Modou had somehow ended up in a perilous place perched high atop a towering palm tree inside the closed grounds of the Centro del Día Santa María de Betania in Jávea Pueblo. No one knows why he climbed so high, but there he was: stranded, scared, and scorched by the relentless summer sun. The tree had recently been trimmed, leaving no shelter for him, just heat, height, and helplessness.

For five long days, he clung to that palm, too frightened to move, with no way to climb down. A kind neighbour, who could see the cat from an apartment across the high wall, watched his struggle with growing alarm. Finally, desperate to help, she called Catland. When we arrived, it was immediately clear: Modou was trapped, and time was running out. The fire brigade (bomberos) came, but due to the tricky access, they couldn’t reach him. So we put out a call, a plea for help. What followed was one of our most daring rescues yet.

With the support of an expert tree surgeon and a team of volunteers, a plan was formed. The climber would ascend the tree while we stood below, arms outstretched with blankets, ready to catch Modou if he fell. And he did fall! not once, but three times. Three heart-stopping, breath-holding moments. Each time, our team caught him, but Modou, terrified and disoriented, bolted right back up the tree.

The ones who seem the most unreachable…

Finally, on the third fall, his strength gave out. Exhausted, dehydrated, and in pain, he surrendered. Gently, lovingly, we placed him into a carrier and rushed him to the vet. Modou’s little body was battered, but his spirit was still there, cautious, yes, but alive. After treatment, he was placed in the care of Mayte, a seasoned foster with the gentlest of souls.

Modou was afraid of everything at first. He didn’t trust, didn’t play, barely moved. But Mayte waited. Patiently. Soft words, quiet moments, slow blinks and all the language of love that only a cat like Modou could understand. And slowly, he began to trust her. Days turned to weeks. Weeks into months. And then… something changed. Modou leaned into her touch. He blinked back. He played. He purred. And Mayte? She had already fallen in love. Hopelessly, completely, beautifully in love with this brave, battered little survivor.

Today, Modou is home. Not just safe, but cherished. His story from that sweltering tree to the arms of someone who would never let him fall again is one we’ll always carry with us. Because sometimes, the ones who seem the most unreachable… are just waiting for someone to climb high enough to bring them home.

Modou and Mayte,  a love story rooted in rescue, and grown in trust. 💛🌴🐾

In the spotlight

Like for so many of our rescues, Modou’s worst day turned out to be his best! His adventure made it into the newspapers and was even featured in an episode of TV show Animalades. Watch his segment below, you can find the whole episode on the A Punt website.