Cat rescue's warning after kitten got stuck in car engine

Firefighters were called out to rescue the five-week-old kitten who was left with two broken legs after the ordeal.

Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary (BCWRS) said the kitten, believed to be part of a stray litter in the area, had climbed into the engine for warmth.

The rescue’s founder Katie Lloyd heard tiny weak cries coming from the car.

Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary's Katie Lloyd with one of the firefighters who helped rescue the cat (Image: BCWRS) Several specialist fire and rescue officers spent more than an hour stripping part of the car to find the kitten.

The kitten received emergency care at the rescue later that evening. 

The kitten received emergency care at the rescue (Image: BCWRS) Just last night, the rescue received another call-out about two cold and hungry ginger kittens nestled inside a car engine.

The owner of the car, who quickly realised where the cats were, phoned the rescue for help.

Katie said: “These cheeky little boys had a lucky escape.

Two cold and hungry ginger kittens stuck inside a car engine (Image: BCWRS) “Thankfully we could see and access both kittens and brought them to safety.

“Apart from being very cold, hungry, and scared these kittens have escaped any serious injuries but these dreadful rescues in BD3 are becoming too regular.”

The little kittens, now named Insignia and Vauxhall, are now in the care of BCWRS.

'Bang on your bonnet three times'

Katie, a former paediatric nurse who has dedicated over two decades of her life to helping cats, added: “In 18 years that we’ve been running I’ve never actually been called out to retrieve cats from an engine, until this week. We have taken carts that have been found in engines or on people’s drives.

“As it’s colder - and really it’s not that cold yet - just before you get in your car bang on your bonnet three times. It will usually spook them out.”

Two cold and hungry ginger kittens now in the care of the rescue (Image: BCWRS)

It comes ahead of the rescue’s big push to raise £5,000 towards a new intensive care facility. 

Cats who are brought into the rescue’s intensive care centre are often badly neglected, disabled, or facing life-threatening injuries. 

The rescue has saved the eyesight of a cat covered in a toxic substance and given a home to a paralysed cat left for dead in the streets of Dubai.

Earlier this month, a cat named Carrie - who came into the rescue “barely alive, dehydrated, unable to sit, stand, pee or poop and developed seizures” - went to live with her forever family.

It was believed the cat suffered a traumatic brain injury which left her blind.

The rescue also helped Yeti, a five-year-old injured stray who was significantly injured after getting caught up on barbed wire.

“We’ve never actually got it into a clinical environment,” Katie said.

“Now there’s a definite need to be able to deliver better care."

People can donate to the cat rescue via via PayPal using bcwrkittensfundraising@gmail.com as the recipient.

Alternatively, people can call Northcote Vets and pay over the phone on 01274 632222, quoting ‘BCWR’.