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Cat-astrophe strikes as tabby trapped for up to TWO days on 80-mile road trip
It's believed the cat may have been trapped in the air vent for two days Picture: RSPCA - Credit: RSPCA
A hitchhiking tabby cat has had a miraculous escape after it was revealed he may have travelled some 80 miles into Essex wedged in the grille of a family car.
The male cat, who has now been nicknamed Ford by RSPCA staff, was trapped in the air vent of a silver Ford Focus Picture: RSPCA - Credit: RSPCA
It’s believed the animal was stuck in a silver Ford Focus – possibly for two days – while the motorist travelled was on holiday in Clacton.
The driver was shocked when he spotted the male tabby – now appropriately named Ford – peeking out from underneath the car.
“We’d pulled up at the seafront and I was playing on the green with my brother’s little girl when I looked up and spotted him,” said car owner Steven Kane.
“He is lucky that I saw him. I have no idea where we picked up our little hitchhiker – it could have been anywhere.”
RSPCA inspectors helped him to safety and he is now being looked after Picture: RSPCA - Credit: RSPCA
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Concerned for the cat’s safety, the worried family called the RSPCA and inspector Lucy Brennan attended to help.
“The cat was trapped in the grille of the car and the driver was unsure how long he had been there or where he had come from,” she said.
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“As the family had been driving around quite a lot on their holidays, from Stevenage to Clacton, he wasn’t sure where the cat may have hitched a ride during the last couple of days but the car had driven around 80 miles.
“Luckily, the cat didn’t appear to be injured but he was well and truly trapped.
“We contacted the AA who came out to carefully dismantle the car by taking out the headlights and bumper and freeing the poor moggy.
She added: “He was very smelly and very hungry. The AA explained that even if the cat had been trapped when the motorist was driving the car, luckily the area he was in has no moving parts and doesn’t get hot when the engine is on.
“Having said that, it must have been quite an ordeal for poor Ford.”
Staff at the Danaher branch of the RSPCA in Braintree have now checked him over – but discovered an existing problem with his tail, which may need amputating.
If he is not claimed, Ford will eventually be put up for adoption.
