A RASCAL cat is back to his mischievous old ways with eight lives intact after getting into a serious spin.

A RASCAL cat is back to his mischievous old ways with eight lives intact after getting into a serious spin.

Firefighters came to Reefa the tomcat's rescue when he got stuck in the washing machine at his home in Downside Close, Ipswich.

The mischievous mog climbed in for a rollercoaster spin cycle as owner Dominic Harding turned his back between emptying the machine and closing the door.

“He was curled up into a ball and because he's black I just didn't see him there.”

It wasn't until Mr Harding's partner Laura Hamilton heard the kitten's cries of distress that the couple realised their pet had got himself into hot water.

The pair watched helplessly as five month old Reefa began a high speed tumble, but they were able to cut short his death defying stunt before it was too late.

Miss Hamilton, 21, said: “I could hear him crying and thought 'where on earth is that coming from?'

“I looked everywhere for him but then I heard him scratching and looked down to see him in the washing machine.

“I tried everything to make it stop and eventually turned the power off at the mains.”

Neither Miss Hamilton nor Mr Harding could prize open the washing machine door to set Reefa free and it was left up to firefighters to release him.

Miss Hamilton said: “He was dripping wet and his feet were dangling.

“I held a towel around him but he leapt out, climbed on a cupboard and stared at me as if to say 'I hate you!

“He's fine now and back to being as mischievous as ever.

“He's a pain and will find anywhere to venture. I once found him in the fridge eating our bacon.”

By contrast, the couple's other cat Casey is shy and reserved in nature and hides when confronted by even the slightest commotion.

Miss Hamilton praised the fire service for coming to Reefa's aid, saying: “I'm very, very thankful and I'm just sorry they had to come out and rescue a cat from a washing machine!”

More animals in precarious situations:

- In May Siamese cat Casper got his head stuck in a car wheel in Bury St Edmunds.

Casper was stuck in the wheel for more than three hours before firefighters cut him free.

- In the same month, ten-week-old Labrador spaniel cross Molly got her head trapped in a vent at the bottom of a washing machine in Liverpool.

It took two hours for the RSPCA and fire brigade to release the pup.

- Earlier this month a baby Asian elephant got stuck in a drain while walking with its minder in a in Thai street.

The elephant slipped and fell into a manhole, where it was stuck for three hours before a bulldozer dug the animal out.

- In October last year a horse was rescued in West Virginia, USA, after getting its head stuck in a tree

A passer-by spotter Gracie the filly set the horse free by using a chainsaw to cut the wood around its neck.