Cats have emerged as the animals being in most need of rescue after figures revealed they had been trapped in streams, under floorboards and behind furniture.

No fewer than 12 animals – eight of which were cats – were rescued by firefighters in Wimbledon and Morden in 2011.

On July 9, a cat in Raynes Park had to be extracted from underneath a resident’s floorboards, while another had to be rescued from inside a wall on December 6.

And in June 21, one distressed pigeon was trapped in a wardrobe by a woman so scared of the bird she could not enter her bedroom during a midnight callout to Haydon’s Road in Wimbledon.

At the time, one firefighter from Wimbledon fire station’s white watch told the Wimbledon Guardian: “The pigeon flew out of a window when the crew moved the wardrobe.”

That incident was one of 12 animal rescues carried out by firefighters in 2011 in Merton, with cats appearing to be the most in need of help.

A spokeswoman from the London Fire Brigade urged residents not to dial 999 unless it was a real emergency but said residents would not be fined or charged for making superfluous callouts.

She said: “Animal rescues are extremely costly and take up the precious time of our firefighters who could otherwise be attending real emergencies.

“That said, we don’t want people putting themselves at risk to save an animal.”

Animal rescues in Merton by firefighters (2011):

  • Wimbledon (April 2, 2011 7.30pm) – Assist RSPCA with cat up tree Wimbledon (April 22, 2011; 11.59am) – Assist RSPCA with cat up tree;
  • Mitcham (May 4, 2011; 2.07pm) – Assist RSPCA with kitten up a tree;
  • Mitcham (May 14, 2011; 8.30pm) – Pigeon with wing trapped in guttering;
  • Wimbledon Park (June 14, ) – Assist RSCPA with cat on roof Wimbledon (June 21, 1.06am) – Pigeon trapped behind wardrobe;
  • Raynes Park (July 9, 10.55am) – Cat trapped under floorboards;
  • Mitcham (August 18, 6.40pm) – Cat in river
  • Mitcham (August 28, 3.58pm) – Dog stuck in stream Wimbledon Village (October 25) – Cat trapped behind dresser;
  • Wimbledon Village (November 10; 10.27am) – Dog with head stuck in fence (Tools used: axes, hammers, crowbars and croppers);
  • Morden (December 6, 11.52am) – Cat trapped in wall