Pixie, a white and gray cat, weathered Rhode Island’s historic blizzard — stuck 50 feet up in the tree for nearly two full days. But, with three feet of snow on the ground, a local man climbed up and brought her back down to safety.

“She wanted to be safe. She was just petrified, overall freezing. Couldn’t stop shaking,” Matthew Lyons told Boston.com about the rescue. “For about half the climb down, I put her in my sweatshirt and let her head peek out so she could breathe.”

Heather MacKinnon, of East Providence, first noticed her neighbor’s cat Pixie high up in a tree in the shared backyard on Monday evening, as the hurricane-like winds blew and the snow piled quickly. The cat’s owner had been trying to get Pixie to come down from the tree since Sunday evening.

“This went on for hours. We tried everything that we could,” MacKinnon said, adding that they tried to help the cat with a two-by-four, stacking plastic chairs, and rolling over old tires left in the backyard.

Ultimately, the neighbors went to sleep Monday evening without getting the cat down, MacKinnon said. Police, fire, and animal control all said they couldn’t help, she said, advising the neighbors to instead reach out to tree services.

“I’m admitting defeat around like 10 o’clock that night, and everyone went back inside, and I’m just like, oh my god, what am I gonna do?” MacKinnon recalled. She called her aunt, who suggested sharing the situation on the Nextdoor app, a hyperlocal social media app that connects neighbors.

Lyons, a member of Ironworkers Local 37, and his sister saw the post on Tuesday.

“We were actually out shoveling and just decided to go see what we could do about it,” Lyons said. His sister saw the post on Nextdoor, and “if she can go out and help a person or an animal, she will,” Lyons said. 

With loaders working to clear unplowed roads, it was difficult to get to the cat, Lyons said, but eventually they got to the tree, buried in snow. Using a nearby chicken wire fence, Lyons said he got to the low limbs nearly 10 feet off the ground.

“I’m confident with free climbing and all that stuff, and climbing that tree was really nothing,” Lyons said about what he estimated was 40 to 50 feet.

Once he got to the top, he put Pixie in his sweatshirt to begin his descent. When he was closer to the bottom, the neighbors congregating threw him a backpack to put Pixie in for him to safely climb down.

“It was crazy to watch,” MacKinnon said. “It was really incredible.”

Lyons said the neighbors almost seemed in shock, including the owner. Pixie is now back with her owner and doing well, MacKinnon said.

“They were very happy and relieved that the cat was down,” Lyons said. “They almost couldn’t believe it.”

Watch: Cat high up in the tree the night of the storm

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.

Allyn Meyers, chairman, Rhode Island Republican Party

President Trump promised, and President Trump delivered. In last night’s historic State of the Union Address, Rhode Islanders heard about a national “turnaround for the ages,” which has brought critical relief to working families across the country.

Core inflation is at its lowest point in five years, gas prices are down, the stock market has hit record after record, and no tax on tips and overtime is helping workers keep more of what they earn. TrumpRX is making prescription drugs more affordable, and Trump Accounts are paving the way for the next generation of first-time homebuyers and college students.

Jessica de la Cruz, Senate minority leader, District 23​​ (North Smithfield, Burrillville, Glocester)

Tonight, the president reaffirmed a commitment to secure borders, energy independence, and economic growth. The Democrat super majority in Rhode Island should take note. High taxes, costly mandates, and overregulation are not a formula for prosperity.

Ken Naylor, president, Rhode Island Young Republicans

During a strong State of the Union address, the president highlighted delivering on his campaign promises. Here in Rhode Island, voters are looking for that same focus and follow-through from our state leaders when it comes to lowering energy costs, improving competitiveness, and addressing the cost of living.

Ashley Kalus, 2022 candidate for governor

If Seth Magaziner ever manages to ban insider trading for all those crooks, we should name a holiday after him. I hope someday the State of Our Union does feel strong again. Until then, Rhode Island has too many serious problems at home to get swept up in DC’s drama, so let’s take all the federal money we can get and fix our own house. That other house is too crazy.

Brian Newberry, state representative, District 48 (Burrillville, North Smithfield)

I haven’t watched a SOTU speech, regardless of president, since 2002, and I’m not planning to start now.

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.

A college football player from Bohemia died Monday of carbon monoxide poisoning while charging his phone in a snow-covered car in Newport, Rhode Island,  police there said.

Joseph Boutros, 21, a student at Salve Regina University in Newport, was unconscious when police and firefighters found him in a car in a parking lot at 7:20 p.m., the Newport Police Department said in a news release.

“This tragic incident was accidental and a reminder to be vigilant to keep exhaust pipes clear of snow and debris when vehicles are idling,” the statement said.

Boutros was listed as an offensive lineman on the 2025 Salve Regina football team roster. He was a criminal justice and criminology major and graduated in 2022 from Connetquot High School.

Newport police said the vehicle’s exhaust pipe was embedded in snow when first responders arrived at the parking lot. The vehicle was not running. Boutros was transported to the Newport Hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead.

Alan Rodrigues, also of Bohemia and a 2022 Connetquot High graduate, told Newsday late Tuesday he found Boutros, his best friend, unconscious in his car Monday night. He was shaken by the death of his college roommate.

“I’m doing the best I can, given the circumstances,” Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues also played football at Connetquot and reconnected with Boutros in 2024 at Salve Regina. He’s 

now a senior football player at Salve Regina.

Said Connetquot football coach Mike Konsevitch of Boutros: “Joe had an infectious smile … Every day on the football field was a great day for him. He worked extremely hard at a sport he loved.”

Konsevitch said Boutros “improved every year and got playing time on the offensive line as a senior. He went on to play at Nassau Community College and now at Salve Regina.”

The coach recalled Boutros’ grandmother’s expression on the high school football team’s Senior Day.

“I can still see her smile because she was so proud of him and how he stuck it out with football and earned his opportunities for playing time,” Konsevitch said.

Connetquot High School Principal Michael Moran said Boutros was very likable and worked hard in school.

“He was a great kid all around,” Moran said. “He always came back and stood on the sidelines supporting our program. He was very friendly and loved the football program.”