Cat in the Tree

So a few weeks ago I was at my dads house for dinner and the neighbors huge dog got out and went after my little sisters cat. Well her cat ran up the tree end of the story... You would think. No, Sam, my little sister, was worried her cat would get hurt and had to climb up after her. Every time she would try to grab at her the cat would climb higher or the cat would hold on to the branch for dear life. Well this went on for a good half hour or longer. Sam finally gave up and got out of the flimsy tree and 5 minutes later here comes her cat Callie by the door meowing for food. What were those fireman thinking in the 50's?