POCATELLO — When cats end up in the Portneuf River, Pocatello firefighters believe they know the cause.

People — most likely kids — are suspected of throwing felines over the tall chain link fences that border the river's path through the city on both banks.

It happened again on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the Fire Department's Station 2 to conduct an all too familiar cat rescue operation.

Station 2 on North Hayes Avenue is the closest fire station to the section of the Portneuf River where the cats are usually able to pull themselves from the current and climb onto one of the islands of mud that poke through this shallow part of the waterway.

Tuesday's incident was reported around 1 p.m. when a nearby resident spotted a black cat stranded on a mud patch in the river near West Wyeth Street.

Fire Department Capt. Jon Miller and his crew of firemen knew exactly what to do. They have at least one cat rescue in the Portneuf River every month.

Within 10 minutes of being on the scene, the firefighters had one ladder up along the fence and another longer ladder on the fence's other side leading down about 20 feet to the river below.

Miller, holding a small portable cat kennel, descended into the river—shallow at this point—and then walked about 25 yards through the river's water and the falling rain to the black cat, huddled and shivering on top of the mud.

It didn't take Miller more than a few seconds to coax the feline into the kennel and soon he was headed back up the ladder, kennel with cat in hand.

This was the fifth time Miller's rescued a cat from the Portneuf and as he climbed up one ladder and down another to get back onto the riverbank Pocatello Animal Control officer Cary Keeney referred to him as "the cat whisperer."

"The secret to a successful cat rescue — blind luck," said Miller, an 11-year Fire Department veteran. "Sometimes they'll run away and jump back into the water. We never know if it's a wild cat or house cat. But they can't get away. We just grab them."

Firefighters wear heavy leather gloves, provided by Pocatello Animal Control, when they're conducting a cat rescue in the Portneuf. Miller said the gloves keep the firefighters from being scratched and/or bitten.

"We're always real careful," he said.

Miller said he believes kids are likely responsible for the cats being found in the river.

"That's what Animal Control tells us. I've got to think that's what happens," he said.

Pocatello Animal Control Director Mary Remer said cats are too agile to simply fall into the river on their own.

"I don't know how they would just fall into the river. They probably get some help," Remer said.

Remer said the cat rescued Tuesday is a "very friendly" three to four year old non-neutered male. He will be kept at the Pocatello Animal Shelter until June 3 in hopes that his owner will claim him. If he's not claimed, the cat will be put up for adoption.

Remer said the possibility that people are throwing cats into the Portneuf River is another reason for cat owners to keep their felines indoors.

"As cruel as people can be, this is one more reason why cats should be kept inside," Remer said. "You never know what can happen to a cat if it's outside."