Nala the cat was known for climbing around her Mount Beauty home, but at about 2pm Sunday, owner Carol Batt found her pet about seven metres high and unable to go anywhere.

“She was clinging on for dear life,” she said.

Firefighters, police and nearby residents tried to lure Nala back to ground by throwing lemons and spraying water.

Even the firefighters’ ladder only went halfway up the pole and power company AusNet would not send anyone out to help.

But she would not budge so Jon Sanderson, a CFA volunteer and friend of the family, organised for police to borrow a cherry picker and was lifted up to collect the cat.

“We’re fairly fortunate in Mount Beauty, we’ve got a lot of resources,” he said.

“It tried to hang onto the pole, but that was quite easily resolved.”

Nala, who has a friendly temperament, was happy to be helped down into the arms of Ms Batt’s daughter Leah.

“I haven’t done a cat rescue before,” Mr Sanderson said.

“It was a different way to spend a Sunday afternoon.”

Ms Batt thanked police, firefighters and residents who spent three hours trying to rescue Nala before she could fall and get hurt.

“She was very happy and a bit affectionate when she got home,” she said.

“Hopefully she won’t do it again.”