r/mildlyinteresting • u/Raymond_912 • 1d ago
Removed - Rule 6 Car started meowing after a 10km drive from hospital.
[removed] — view removed post
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u/Raymond_912 1d ago edited 1d ago
Heard a faint meow after I parked and figured I was just was going crazy. Turns out the meowing was coming from inside the car. Popped the hood and found this guy just lounging in the engine bay like it was no big deal. Apparently he hitched a 10km ride from the hospital without a care in the world. Now I’m waiting for the engine to cool down before attempting a gentle extraction. He seems fine (somehow?), but I’ll check him for burns before chauffeuring him back to where he snuck in from.
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u/Raymond_912 1d ago edited 1d ago
Update: Gentle extraction did not work, I repeat gentle extraction did not work.
(He is biting me now.)2.4k
u/Raymond_912 1d ago edited 1d ago
Another update for the curious of you:
I think he’s actually stuck - I'd left tuna and water under the car for hours and it remained untouched. So, in a moment of weakness (and feline manipulation), I caved and hand-fed him. He accepted it graciously like the tiny stowaway prince he is.
I also MacGyvered a mini platform to help him escape, thinking I was a genius.Unfortunately, I’ve now realized the tuna was a double-edged sword—he’s full, content, and has absolutely no reason to follow the carefully baited tuna trail out of my MacGyvered exit.
He lives there now. I just work here.
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u/Yoghurt42 1d ago
I think he’s actually stuck
My guess is he was burnt from the exhaust in front of him and is now scared of coming near it.
Try to follow u/Peverawho's advice, look up videos on how to do it. It a reflex cats have from mothers carrying their kittens this way. They'll freeze and allow you to move them.
Another option is to contact a shelter and ask for advice.
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u/Glu7enFree 1d ago
My guess is he was burnt from the exhaust in front of him and is now scared of coming near it.
It isn't the exhaust, it's the lower radiator hose, it'll still be fairly hot, but not exhaust levels of hot, so atleast he won't be covered in 3rd degree burns.
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u/2W_Clarence 1d ago edited 1d ago
In the bottom left of the picture is the exhaust
Edit: y’all need to work on your reading comprehension.
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u/Diligent_Bat_7777 1d ago
Isn’t that the lower radiator hose?
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u/2W_Clarence 1d ago
No. You can see the shape of the manifold where it separates to attach to the head.
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u/Twig 1d ago
I don't know asses from elbows when looking at the engine but I love this discussion.
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u/Lazureus 1d ago
It's lower rad .. and odd variation though with the coolant temp sensor attached to the pipe instead of the block.
Starts steel, then the lower rad hose clamps onto it.
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u/kuemmel234 1d ago
If you've got bitten and it drew blood, be sure to check back with the hospital. Cat bites can infect super fast.
Good luck and thanks for caring!
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u/I_am_Bob 1d ago
Yeah and unfortunately if the cat is truly a stray a bite that broke skin could be a rabies risk.
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u/iris_cat1313 1d ago
Actually there are no confirmed cases of rabies being passed to a human by a cat in the last 40 years - so it's highly highly unlikely
Edit: in the last 40 years
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u/myfirstgold 1d ago
I know someone that had to get rabies shots last year from a cat bite so just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean that they won't still give you shots for it.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
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u/ChickadeePip 1d ago
While you are correct that cats are relatively low risk vectors, I will say, as someone with wildlife rehab experience and who has processed rabies reports for an entire state....no. Rabies is not very rare. Not in the US. Not in places like India. It's rare in humans in places with rabies largely because of no tolerance rules. Basically in states with high volumes of rabies any interaction with a rabies vector species (beyond domestic like dog and cats, as sometimes unactivated individuals face quarantine vs. Testing) results in euthanasia and testing.
I saw people all the time thinking its a rare thing. And these people would do things like bottle raise baby raccoons in their kitchen with no gloves. Which means every. Single. Baby. Had to be euthanized and tested.
And I have absolutely seen cases of people taking in a baby that had rabies. One was fun, they let all the neighborhood kids pet it. It tested positive. Because rabies can be symptomless in early stages, people foolishly think normal looking animals don't have it.
Even if rabies is rare in many places, it's all but 100% fatal. It should not be downplayed. The myth that it is rare, especially on a platform with international access, should not be spread. Because if you are in an area with rabies, it's dangerous to be complacent.
That said, I do not think this cat poses a rabies risk.
But I think anyone with a blanket statment saying it's rare, etc etc should act with caution. Thousands upon thousands of innocent animals are euthanized every year because people don't understand wildlife, they don't understand rabies, and they only way to test an animal is to kill it and take brain matter.
And trust me. If you had had to take an adorable, perfectly healthy baby raccoon or fox and euthanize it simply because some well meaning human didn't use gloves and didn't understand rabies, you too would be pretty darn passionate about it.
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u/BeyondBitch 1d ago
Cats are liquid, unless his tail is caught or something, he should be removable.
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u/svenkaas 1d ago
Op do yourself a favour and get professionals involved. As a firefighter I have extracted a few cats from engines or other tight spots. We always try and get a vet or animal control on scene for assistance. We have cat gloves, we know how to remove car parts and put them back without damage.
Not sure how the service in your area is but i am sure they can help you
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u/Pevarawho 1d ago
Grabbing by the scruff of the neck won't hurt them, and freezes them from scratching. Use a thin board to prevent him from backing away, and be quick if you can reach
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u/Grimreap32 1d ago
Key word here is grabbing. Once you grab the scruff. You do the actual lifting with another hand on the body. Don't lift by the scruff.
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u/ShinyDexter 1d ago
Genuine question from curiosity: Why not just lift from the scruff, isn't that how they're carried by the mom?
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u/Blastcheeze 1d ago
When they're tiny and weigh a couple of ounces. A full grown cat is heavy enough that this could do some damage if they're not otherwise supported.
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u/Constant_Natural3304 1d ago
It doesn't matter, the other people in here are overly cautious. It might hurt a fully grown cat a little bit, but it's nothing compared to the harm done to the cat stuck in the engine, especially with potential burns. You normally don't grab full-grown cats like that, but for this occasion, it's perfectly fine to do it once. There is no need or cause to do it otherwise.
Redditors, it just so happens, are frightened, hysterical wankers who greatly exaggerate risk.
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u/KoalaKaiser 1d ago
I have two cats where scruffing does nothing. They're somehow immune to it but thankfully I raised them both from kittens so they let me clip their nails and do whatever I need to do without a fight. They just purr the whole time.
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u/DroidLord 1d ago
This is probably the best way to go about it. Put on some thick work gloves or welder's gloves if you have them and grab him by the scruff of the neck.
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u/ckerazor 1d ago
Please refrain from doing that to adult cats. It absolutely can hurt them. It's fine on very young cats if you're very gentle.
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u/Slug_core 1d ago
You can scruff an adult to make them less aggressive just hold the weight with your other hand. Even vets do it during exams.
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u/Reniconix 1d ago
What's gonna hurt them more, being scruffed or being stuck in an engine bay? Seriously dude, context matters and sometimes you have to do what you have to do the get an animal to safety.
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u/Raymond_912 1d ago edited 1d ago
MOD said people can still receive Updates on this thread, so I will try it here, for those who saved the post and wanted to see how things turned out.
Final Update:
After some more coaxing, an upgraded MacGyvered cardboard platform system, a few extra hands (and, of course, more tuna), I finally got him out safely.
I then drove him to the local vet, where they scanned him - and he had a microchip! 🎉
Turns out his name is Simba, and he does in fact belong to someone. I left him at the clinic after they contacted the owner and confirmed a pickup. About 40 minutes later, I got a call from the owner, who thanked me and let me know that Simba is now safely back home.
I am no longer running a surprise cat Airbnb inside my car’s engine. All is well.
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u/Best_Temperature_549 1d ago
Could you call maybe the fire department to come help? Or a local rescue? I would make sure you drop this guy off at a shelter or somewhere he can get medical attention instead of back on the street. They’ll scan for a microchip and make sure he isn’t hurt. I hope he’s okay!
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u/Princess-honeysuckle 1d ago
Please let us know when he’s unstuck OP!! Oh and if you did get scratched you should go to a walk in clinic just in case. Better safe than sorry :)
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u/shadezownage 1d ago
If nothing else, this is the most interesting thing that has happened to you in probably months. A good day to not get much work done!
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u/CanadianDarkKnight 1d ago
The Cat Distribution System is making you work for this one, he must be an extra good boy
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u/Samtoast 1d ago
He's very clearly someone else's dickheadcat who's made a terrible life choice today. Given that he's orange I'm not surprised.
A lot of people with outdoor cats don't put collars on them because they can get caught on shit and actually kill the cat via strangulation
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u/KindOldRaven 1d ago
Swear it's always the orange ones eh
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u/AMike456 1d ago
Trump?
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u/Ksp-or-GTFO 1d ago
We have two Siberians from the same breeder. The second one is flame point and the orange stereotype is definitely true. As a kitten he got a toy stuck to his tail and chased it in circles for so long when he stopped he couldn't hold his head still. We are pretty sure he scrambled his brain.
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u/DrSkizzmm 1d ago
Thank you for curing my depression 🙏🤣
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u/FlameStaag 1d ago
Outdoor cats are just strays people feed.
Pet cats live indoors. Outdoor cats often live short, cruel lives.
So nah. This ain't someone's cat.
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u/Sammydaws97 1d ago
To add on the collars..
They are also negated by having a microchip most of the time now anyways.
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u/Philipp4 1d ago
Not really, a collar is way easier for the common person that may have found the cat to read compared to a microchip
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u/Shredded_Locomotive 1d ago
Perhaps try with some gloves if you got any and maybe a thicker sweater
Also some squinting eyes to try and signal that you aren't a threat
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u/MoistStub 1d ago
Gonna try that squinting trick next time I'm tryna get a girl's phone number
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u/Shredded_Locomotive 1d ago
I don't think it works on people
You're better off just getting some gloves
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u/MoistStub 1d ago
Gloves seems like it could come off weird. Dogs sniff each other's buttholes. That feels like a safer tactic.
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u/timClicks 1d ago
Scared cats need quite a bit of "encouragement". I volunteered for a specialist animal rescue team for a while and we had leather gauntlets for dealing with stuck cats. Grab them as hard as you can on the back of the neck and pull.
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u/JailhouseMamaJackson 1d ago
Make sure you put some antibacterial on those bites! Cat bites are no joke
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u/Emergency_Elephant 1d ago
Depending on exactly where you are, try calling animal control if putting out food doesn't work (and if animal control or some equivalent is in your area). They might be able to sedate the cat to get him out
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u/Foreign_Charge5591 1d ago
Cat bites can kill you make sure if there's swelling to go to hospital no joke. I would search up the warning signs before swelling if I was you
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u/chocki305 1d ago
Always lure them out with food and water.
Just be ready to close the car carrier.
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u/TheW83 1d ago
I'm glad he seems okay. I had a traumatic experience when a small cat decided to hang out in my engine bay. It didn't end well.
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u/sharkeyes 1d ago
I was the one whose cat decided to hide in my neighbor's engine one cold day. Did not end well for anyone.
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u/lunaticskies 1d ago
"This baby really purrs when you get it above 75 MPH"
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u/real-tallnotdeaf 1d ago edited 1d ago
Poor lads just scared. Leave some snacks for him and sit nearby with said snacks, when he learns to trust you, you now have a cat :))
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u/Raymond_912 1d ago
Yea, in all seriousness, I am about to put out some wet snacks and milk or something if that isn't too cliche.
Hope is just decided the ride was nice and he wants to stay tucked in for a minute before getting out.251
u/Benjamoose 1d ago
Avoid milk. It's a bit of a common misconception, but cats are lactose intolerant and it can give them a tummy ache or diarrhea.
Wet/dry cat food, tuna, rice and/or water are all better options.
Definitely try and see if it's chipped by getting it scanned at a vets. It'll not only tell you if it's not a stray, but will give you their address too.
Failing that, taking it back to the original area you found it, as you mentioned, is a good idea.
It not being chipped doesn't necessarily mean it's a stray though either. Best of luck!
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u/3e486050b7c75b0a2275 1d ago
rice
But they are carnivores!
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u/alwaysfeelingtragic 1d ago
bit of grain can be good in moderation, simulates how real prey would have some of its meal still in the stomach and adds extra nutrients, natural carnivores aren't usually fully 100 percent meat
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u/metrometric 1d ago
Huh, I didn't know that! I always wondered why my cat's special gastroenteric food seemed to have some rice grains in it, maybe that's why.
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u/Alfonze 1d ago
Is it ok to get cat milk? We get that for our kitten and logically I'd assume that would be ok? Or is it when they are adults they just can't have it at all?
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u/real-tallnotdeaf 1d ago
If he was a stray from the street he probably is very comfortable with the warmth, and definitely won’t want to move. Good luck! We.. if not definitely me would love an update.
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u/Specific_Kangaroo241 1d ago
This is exactly how I got my second cat 😂
Gal also hitched a short ride, and after extraction and vet visit, she is now my happy little demon 🥰
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u/RedditUser3525 1d ago
But this is probably someone else's cat. You should put in a decent amount of effort into finding the owner. Check for chips and put up flyers
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u/Obsidian-G 1d ago
The cat doesn’t even look scared, it just looks slightly annoyed at its day to day life being disrupted.
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u/Iambeejsmit 1d ago
You should name this cat "Crank" or "Block" or "Clutch" or "Muffler" or something along those lines.
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u/KindlyContribution54 1d ago
Hmm, I think I see your problem. Probably the best way to fix would be to go ahead and pull your cat. Give it a good rub down, a couple of scritches and a can of tuna. Then reinstall it in the back seat. Your ride should be purring in no time
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u/SingularityBypasser 1d ago
Your post will be removed if your title is not an exact description of the picture. That would be a pity, it's a fun pic ! 🙂
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u/TheKensei 1d ago
Congrats you're now a cat owner 🙈
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u/v1rulent 1d ago
No such thing as a cat owner... LMFTFY:
You've just been acquired by a cat! Mazel tov!
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u/chewbacca77 1d ago
Oh man! That's how I got my orange fluffball 10 years ago. He only drove like 3 km though.
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u/raedioactivity 1d ago
This makes me so sad, as my cat was originally my mother's, and she got him as a kitten. He was a completely outdoor cat in the middle of nowhere with lots of big snakes & predators, and he was tiny as hell. He ended up becoming mine after he hitched a ride in my mom's car all the way to town (we lived out in the country on a dirt road). He had burned paw pads & every time I think too hard about what could have happened, I want to cry. He was so small. I hope this kitty is okay❤️
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u/New_Huckleberry_3091 1d ago
Step 1. Get Bucket. Step 2. Fill said bucket to the brim with water. Step 3. Throw bucket load of water on cat. If it is not stuck, it will eject itself very quickly. If it is stuck, you’ll now know…
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u/MisterCleaningMan 1d ago
The Safelite merger with the Feline Distribution System is off to a bad start.
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u/Buck_Thorn 1d ago
I once adopted a little kitty that had had its tail amputated by the fanbelt of a nice warm car. She grew up to be a real good cat, but that must've been a traumatic moment in her young life.
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u/mrefromnyc 1d ago
Had a cat back in the 80s, Humphrietta, who got into our car engine. She got a wicked thrashing from the belts when the motor started. From then on, well into the 2010s, my father beeped the horn when he got in his car. Even when he had no cat and parked in a garage.
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u/Open-Director-8123 1d ago
This is how I got my cat 10 years ago lol. There was nothing I could do and the poor kitten was suffering in the heat. Just said fuck it and sacrificed my arms to yank her out. Still got the burn and a very content kitten 😂
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u/lintheamazon 1d ago
Wow what a lucky cat. My boy was torn apart by a truck engine as a feral 8 month old kitten and lived to tell the tale. He's covered in scars but he functions perfectly fine and they don't seem to cause him any discomfort now that they're healed
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1d ago
I worked at cemetery when I was younger. Stopped at the gas station with a buddy to pick up a drink.
There was a woman in the parking lot bawling her eyes out with the hood of her car open.
We asked if she needed help and she pointed under the hood.
One of her baby kittens crawled inside and the belt of the car shredded the cat into itty bitty pieces all over. We cleaned out everything…
Horrible memory
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u/CaptainBubbles12 1d ago
This is how we found our kitty when she was a kitten. She hitched a ride in our neighbors engine during Hurricane Katrina, for a good 100+ miles (160km). She was all black and we could hardly see her, and only got her out after I started meowing at her to draw her out.
Glad both our kitties were alive and well after their little joy rides
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u/Eastern-Dig-4555 1d ago
Hey mods, this doesn’t violate any of the rules you listed in your comment about why this was removed. Come on
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u/12InchPickle 1d ago
Legitimate question. I get they go under the car or engine bay for warmth and shelter. But don’t they get scared once the car turns on and in many cases starts moving?
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u/sugarplum_nova 1d ago
Please can I check it was def from hospital? Have you been anywhere else recently little fellow could have come from?
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u/ceestand 1d ago
Same happened to me. I drove about a mile and after hearing meowing at too many stoplights found a kitten in the engine compartment. I figured this is how we adopt a cat and after the cat had moved from the engine to a wheel well we tried to feed and water it. It eventually ran off into the night.
It's my understanding they do this to keep warm in the winter. Imagine how often a cat inadvertently hitching a ride like this happens and the cat leaves without the driver ever knowing it was there.
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u/MuldrathaB 1d ago
Could grab some thick welding gloves. Claws or teeth won't get through the leather, and then just pick him up by the scruff.
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u/Peculiar-dog-person 1d ago
Hey, this situation is eerily familiar to when I had a cat stuck in my ceiling. I was only able to get him out by cutting another hole in my ceiling to get him, forcefully. If he was burned he will not leave due to fear and will die there rather than experience that burn again.
If you can see him and touch him, gentle extraction will not work. You will need to pull him out yourself. A cat trap may work from the humane society but it will cost about 1500 for them to come out and help.
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u/Terminus0 1d ago
The craziest cat car extraction I was involved in was pulling a kitten from the bumper of Kia.
I was out with my girlfriend and some of her coworkers and we kept hearing some very light meowing, which we eventually tracked down to one of our cars. This cat would meow every once and a while and we tracked to the inside of the bumper. I want you to picture this a group of bartenders and me were on our hands and knees in a bar parking lot pulling the bottom of this plastic bumper, and two of us had their hands up inside of it searching for this cat. Eventually one of us grabs it, and pulls it out. It is like watching the weirdest birth you've ever seen.
Don't ask me how that kitten got in there, we think it climbed up in the car wheel well when they were stopped, and then took a ride on the highway.
The cat distribution system can be a strange thing.
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u/thethreadkiller 1d ago
My cat did this once and got almost torn and a half when the engine started.
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u/evan85713 1d ago
Definitely after market accessory. More often installed in cabin. Engine compartment install not recommended
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u/GrimGearhead 1d ago
As an ase master tech, this is a transverse mounted engine, which does put the exhaust manifold and pipe up front, and routes it straight down and under the engine and the rest of the car. There is an upper rad hose visible, and it shouldn't get hot enough to burn you on contact.you should be able to do the 'pat, pat, touch, touch' kinda feeling the heat. It's there, but not scalding. If you grab and hold, yes it'll burn you, it's 200ish degrees at full operating temp. Mr stowaway should be able to climb out without trouble. Nothing to my knowledge would be in the area to tangle up a tail, so I'd expect him to come right out. TLDR-its an exhaust, and the cat is probably not stuck, just stubborn.
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u/Scp-1404 1d ago
I'll bet if you ask a local car repair shop to send someone over they will see what they can do for free.
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u/micheallujanthe2nd 1d ago
Is he sitting on the beauty cover/skid plate? I would take that off and get him rhay way
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