Authorities in northwestern Pennsylvania say a woman who tried to rescue a cat from a tree ended up needing a rescue herself.

Firefighters in Erie say they brought a 28-foot ladder to help Tara Dennis get down from the branches on Sunday.

Residents tell the Times-News that they've heard the feline crying for the past couple of days. It's not clear who owns the cat.

Dennis says she couldn't stand by and do nothing. So, she scaled a 40-foot fence, got on a roof and climbed onto a branch. She reached the animal, which she put in her shirt.

But the 21-year-old got stuck as she tried to come down. A neighbour called 911.

Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Carroll says firefighters first carried down the cat, then helped Dennis.