Written by Alisa Mullins
A cat miraculously survived being trapped in the engine of a car during a 200-mile trip. The cat was discovered when the driver of the car stopped at a rest stop after smelling something burning. With the help of a passing police officer, the driver was able to free the cat, who was wedged in the engine compartment and had suffered burns to his right side.
The terrified cat was rushed to a veterinarian, underwent surgery, and is expected to recover. A search is now on for the cat's guardian, but if no one steps forward to claim him, he will be put up for adoption.
This cat's story is unusual only in that he survived. Every winter, countless cats are injured and killed when they crawl inside engine compartments, seeking warmth, and are slashed by fan blades when the unsuspecting driver starts the car.
Help prevent a tragedy by always banging on the hood of your car on cold days before starting it. And as always, keep your cats safely indoors—and urge your neighbors to do the same.
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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