'Terrified' cat survives five-mile trip under bonnet of car

A black cat named Rose has survived a five-mile trip under the bonnet of a car on a school run in Kent. The cat was found nestled in the bonnet of David King’s Vauxhall Astra when he did an oil check after dropping his grandson off. After he discovered the cat, his wife checked if it was alive and called UK charity Cats Protection to help with the rescue. The four-year-old cat was later reunited with her owner, Mr King’s neighbour Allison Webster. The cat, however, has used up one of her nine lives during the ordeal, Ms Webster says.

The story shows how important it is to perform routine checks on your vehicle, particularly under the bonnet. Cats are known to be curious creatures, and small animals can often sneak into cars and find themselves trapped. Drivers can also be exposed to dangers; many accidents happen when people open the bonnet and the engine is still hot, or when chemicals, such as battery acid or brake fluid, are spilled onto the skin, causing burns. Routine maintenance that keeps a car in good shape also applies to the car owner’s safety.

For those who travel with pets, be it dogs, cats, or rabbits, it’s important to remember that animals should be properly restrained while in the car, and not just be allowed to roam around. Even well-behaved pets can get agitated while being transported and become a distraction to the driver, putting everyone’s safety at risk. In addition, in the event of an accident, they can become a flying object that can seriously injure people in the vehicle, and themselves. Whether it be a crate or a harness that straps to the car seat or seatbelt, there are a variety of ways to keep animals safe and comfortable while travelling by car.

Lastly, the incident shows the important work charities like Cats Protection do to help animals in need. The team from Cats Protection’s Swale branch were able to help rescue Rose, allowing her to be reunited with her loving human family. They have many branches across the UK, and their work includes rescuing, fostering, and rehoming cats that have found themselves in a variety of difficult situations. They also provide advice for cat owners on how to care for their pets, and how to increase public awareness about the unwanted cat population.

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