The cat that tried its best to lose all nine lives in one go: Pet falls from one ledge to the next after getting stuck outside owner’s apartment… before firemen finally catch it in a blanket 

  • The dramatic rescue took place at a tower block near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Video shows rescuer inching down to rescue cat from air conditioning unit
  • Animal loses its grip and plunges down, landing on another ledge below
  • Second rescue attempt saw cat fall safely into a sheet held by two firemen

By Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Published: 09:55 EST, 17 September 2015 | Updated: 15:09 EST, 17 September 2015

This is the dramatic moment a cat plunges from one ledge to the next after getting stuck outside its owner's tower block apartment - before firemen finally catch it in a blanket. 

Rescuers were called to the building in Vila Isabel, north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil amid reports a cat was stuck on an air conditioning unit four floors up.

Mobile phone footage taken by a bystander shows a rescuer clambering out of a window above the black cat and inching his way down with the help of a colleague.

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A cat plunged from one floor to the next after escaping from the clutches of a fireman (pictured) who was abseiling down to rescue it from the side of a Brazilian tower block

A cat plunged from one floor to the next after escaping from the clutches of a fireman (pictured) who was abseiling down to rescue it from the side of a Brazilian tower block

Airborne: The cat loses its grip and crashes in to the air conditioning unit before the rescuer can grab it - only to land safely on another ledge below

Airborne: The cat loses its grip and crashes in to the air conditioning unit before the rescuer can grab it - only to land safely on another ledge below

As the camera zooms in, the frightened pet can be seen trying to scramble up the side of a wire mesh window guard.

Seconds later, the cat loses its grip and crashes in to the air conditioning unit before the rescuer can grab it sparking screams of anguish from neighbours down below.

Incredibly, the animal then lands safely on a similar air conditioning unit 10ft below.

The footage then shows the animal walking along a window ledge as the fire fighter abseils down to make a second rescue attempt. 

Falling down: Incredibly, the animal landed safely on an air conditioning unit after the first of its tumbles

Falling down: Incredibly, the animal landed safely on an air conditioning unit after the first of its tumbles

Despite initially catching hold of the cat, it manages to wriggle free and plunges three storeys - straight into a blanket being held by two more rescuers

Despite initially catching hold of the cat, it manages to wriggle free and plunges three storeys - straight into a blanket being held by two more rescuers

Nine lives: Moments after making a safe landing, it can be seen shooting off along a car park as hysterical witnesses scream in the background

Nine lives: Moments after making a safe landing, it can be seen shooting off along a car park as hysterical witnesses scream in the background

Despite initially catching hold of the cat, it manages to wriggle free and plunges three storeys - straight into a blanket being held by two more rescuers.

Moments after making a safe landing, it can be seen shooting off along a car park as hysterical witnesses scream in the background.

The owner of the cat was not in the apartment when the incident unfolded on Tuesday.