Lort Smith Issues Urgent Winter Warning Following Dramatic Car Engine Rescues
Ladies and gentlemen… do not start your engines just yet!
Lort Smith Animal Hospital has issued an urgent warning for Australian drivers to check their cars this winter, sharing photos of a dramatic recent rescue right in their own car park.
A crafty cat managed to escape its carrier at the hospital and headed straight for the nearest staff member's car, squeezing directly up into the engine bay.
Thanks to a team of quick-thinking staff, the feline fugitive was eventually removed safely—though the team jokes that it really really did not want to visit the hospital for its annual vaccination!
But this isn't the first time Lort Smith has had to pull off a dramatic under-hood rescue. This seasonal phenomenon is a recurring danger. In a remarkably similar past case, a tiny five-week-old stray kitten survived a terrifying 25-kilometre ordeal stuck inside a car engine during a commute from Deer Park to Parkville.
The driver had absolutely no idea she had a hitchhiker right next to moving engine parts until she went to drive home 12 hours later and heard faint meowing. She immediately drove straight to Lort Smith, where a crew from the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) had to be called in. It took firefighters over an hour of careful work to extricate the kitten from behind the front grille.
Dubbed "Honda" after the vehicle he hitched a ride in, the lucky kitten sustained minor burns to his back paw pads, which were treated with pain relief before he was safely reunited with his mother.
How (and Why) Do Cats Get Under the Hood?
To a human, an engine bay seems like a dangerous maze of metal. But to a freezing feline, it represents the ultimate survival shelter.
"Cats have a higher baseline body temperature than humans and actively seek out the residual heat of a recently driven car to stay warm," warns Dr Jessica Wilde, Chief Veterinary Officer at Lort Smith.
"The engine bay provides a dark, enclosed space where they feel safe from predators and bad weather. Kittens, in particular, can easily squeeze into the tiniest gaps in the undercarriage, wheel wells, and engine blocks."
How do they get up there? Cats are incredibly lithe. They typically climb onto the top of a car’s rubber tyres, shimmying into the wheel arches which offer a clear, open path directly up into the engine compartment.
Furthermore, with homeless and stray cat populations experiencing an unprecedented surge across the country, rescue groups note that mother cats will often intentionally carry their entire litters into engine bays, viewing it as a secure, elevated den to protect their kittens from rival animals.
Three Seconds to Save a Life
Drivers are being asked to take just three seconds to follow these simple tips before turning the key this winter:
1. Knock firmly on your hood: Give the bonnet a few solid slaps to startle any sleeping felines.2. Honk your horn: A quick beep is usually enough to make a hidden cat bolt.
3. Check around your tyres: Take a quick glance at your wheel wells and the top of your tyres before jumping in.
How to Keep Neighbourhood Cats Away from Your Car
If you notice a recurring feline visitor sleeping near your vehicle, there are a few practical steps you can take to secure your car this winter:
Park in a Garage: Whenever possible, keep your vehicle securely enclosed inside a garage or shed.
Block Access Outdoors: If you must park on the street, consider using a tight-fitting, high-quality car cover to block access to the wheel wells.
Provide a Warm Alternative: Setting up a simple, insulated outdoor pet shelter packed with straw in your yard can keep local strays cosy and completely out of harm's way.
What to do if you find a hidden cat:
"If a cat is trapped in your car engine, do not start the vehicle," says Dr Wilde. "Turn the ignition off entirely, open the hood, and attempt to lure the cat out with a calm voice and strong-smelling food like tuna."
A critical safety note for rescuers:
A trapped, freezing cat is often in a state of high anxiety. Never try to grab a hidden cat with bare hands, as they may instinctively bite or scratch out of fear. Always use thick gloves or gently drape a blanket over them. If the cat is stuck, injured, or unresponsive, call a local mechanic, animal rescue, or emergency services immediately to remove them safely.
