Thom holds on to to Walter's shoulder as he boosts him up,then carefully balances and stretches up just a little further.

He murmurs quietly to the cat, as he tries to get closer to it without scaring it. Leaning just a little further, he finally stretches far enough to grab it and pull it back.

Which is when the cat reacts as you might expect. Thom yelps as the cat's claws sink into his arms, but hangs on to it.