1. Don't Panic
3. Determine if your cat is truly stuck or caught, not just scared and stubborn
It's probable that your cat is being stubborn and won't come down because it doesn't want to, or it's frightened, but it's possible that the cat simply can't get down for some reason. It may truly be stuck, or its collar is caught on a branch, etc. Observe the cat as closely as you possibly can to see if it is stuck or struggling. If so, you won't be able to coax it down, and you should skip to a direct approach.
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4. Be patient
If your cat appears to be safe where it is, and is just relaxing and being stubborn about making a descent, the next thing for you to do is to do nothing. Take the path of least resistance and give your furry friend a couple of hours to get bored and come down on its own. Your cat may be more resourceful than you give it credit for, and could just be waiting to get down safely when it's good and ready.
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5. Use a familiar talking-to-your-cat voice to communicate with and call your cat
You'll naturally want to call to your cat and try to coax it down. Feel free to do this, but use the normal voice you use to talk to your cat every day. Again, don't panic. Don't yell angrily or demandingly. You don't want to indicate to the cat that something is wrong, and you certainly don't want to frighten it more, or give it the idea that you are a threat. That will only make the situation worse. If your cat knows certain words or phrases that you normally use to call it to you, now is the time to use them.
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6. Entice your cat with food
There's no shame in using bribery! Your cat may be hanging out high up in that tree because it's comfortable, and maybe all it needs to come down is a reason. Give it a reason! Offer its favorite food. Make sure your cat can hear you preparing the food, to signal that it's supper time. Pour the cat food into the food bowl outside so your cat can hear it clinking, rather than filling the bowl in your kitchen and bringing it outside. If your cat loves tuna, stand underneath the tree when you crack open that can. What cat could resist?
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7. Get a ladder
If your cat is truly stuck, or it's simply too frightened to come down on its own, and the patient/passive approach hasn't worked, it's time to get proactive. If you have access to an extension ladder, you can try rescuing your cat yourself. Before you start climbing, see if the cat is willing to use the ladder on its own as escape route down from the tree. If that doesn't work, and you feel comfortable taking matters into your own hands, it's time to climb. Observe all the necessary safety precautions when using the ladder. Your own safety should be your top priority. Ideally, you'll have a partner who can stay on the ground and stabilize the ladder as you climb. Go slowly, and remain calm. You don't want to frighten your cat further up the tree. If it doesn't want to come down, it probably won't let you grab it too easily even if you can reach it, so do your best to make yourself seem safe and welcoming.
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8. Use a bag or sack to carry your cat back to the ground
If you can reach the cat and it lets you grab it, congratulations! But you're not out of the woods yet. You still have to carry it down, and whether your cat likes to be held or not, this won't be a comfortable situation for either of you. Don't try to descend the ladder with the cat in your arms. Put it in a bag or a sack of some sort. Your cat might not love this, but it will keep you both much safer and your cat much easier to manage until you both have you feet back on solid ground.
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