It’s Out! Ingrid Newkirk’s ‘Cat Care Bible’

One night, years ago, Ingrid Newkirk’s rescued cat Moomin slipped through a barely open window and disappeared. Concerned for Moomin’s safety, Ingrid scoured the neighborhood, placed posters at every intersection and on every bulletin board, ran newspaper ads, enlisted mail carriers and neighbors to help search, and did all she could think to do – but there was still no sign of her beloved cat. “By the 10th day, I felt as if my heart had been crushed by a steamroller,” Ingrid recalls. But just when all hope seemed lost, someone saw one of her huge “Lost Cat: Reward” plywood boards and realized that the frightened little cat hiding under their porch, nearly a mile away, was “wanted.” Moomin came home, ate ravenously, curled up on Ingrid’s bed, and slept and slept.

Top tip: It takes only a second for a curious cat to wind up in a dangerous predicament – or to unthinkingly put them into one ourselves. We must be vigilant, from double-checking the dryer before turning it on to triple-checking a cat-sitter’s references. Stories in Ingrid’s newly updated book, 250 Vital Things Your Cat Wants You to Know, show how easily accidents can happen – and how to prevent them.

Out on a Limb

Wendy found herself high up in a tree for four days, even clinging on for dear life through thunder and lightning. Terrified, she leaped to an even higher tree! Finally, someone called PETA’s Emergency Response Team. We recruited a skilled tree climber, who brought Wendy back to earth and her family. Tip: Let cats birdwatch safely from a window perch, and teach them to enjoy the outdoors with you, on a harness.

Rising Water Can Mean Rising Danger

During a torrential downpour in the Philippines, a PETA Asia staff member heard faint mewing sounds. She followed them to find a kitten stranded on a rock, surrounded by rushing water. She got help and managed to save Buchi just in time. Tip: If there is flooding near you, keep an eye and an ear out near storm drains, ponds, and sewers – you may save a little life.

Cats Are Not ‘Cargo’

Tabitha’s cage door tore open during a flight. She survived 12 terrifying days in the cargo hold, sipping condensation from a pipe as the plane flew back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, a psychic – yes, really – was allowed to help find her, and Tabitha was saved. Tip: Never fly animals in the hold of a plane, which often isn’t properly climate-controlled, and where crates and baggage can shift, breaking open latches and damaging “pet” carriers. Always keep small animals in the cabin with you, where they can be seen, heard, and comforted.

Warm Car Hoods Can Mean Cold Endings

Cats left outdoors sometimes crawl under car hoods to huddle against the engine for warmth. PETA’s fieldworkers extricated a kitten named Dodge from an SUV, but countless others are seriously injured when unsuspecting people turn the key. Tip: Always tap the hood or honk before starting a vehicle in cold weather, especially when parked outside.