RSPCA and fire services rescued a tiny black and white kitten which was stuck under a car bonnet in Southampton.
The RSPCA was called to Milton Road, Southampton, when nearby resident heard the sound of a cat crying from inside a car bonnet parked on the street at about 8am on Friday (August 30). 
Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Michael Standen attended to try and help free the cat from the car. He said: “This cat was lucky kind members of the public responded to his cries and didn’t just think it was the engine purring.
“I looked under the car, but I couldn’t see where the cat was trapped so it was a case of doing a bit of detective work to try and find the owner.”
The RSPCA officer called the council as the owner of the car, a red Peugeot, was nowhere to be found. When he was unable to track down the car owner, he then contacted the car company to try and trace where the can had been bought from and if they still had the buyer’s details.
In the meantime, he also called the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service animal rescue adviser for assistance to free the stricken kitty.
Michael and Adrian Knight from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services came to his aid and were all set to jack up the and try to free the cat from inside the vehicle when the owners of the car arrived having received a call from the company, he bought his motor from.
Michael added: “He was still on the phone to the company when he came to meet us. He popped the bonnet and there was this tiny black and white kitten, literally just sat on top of the battery staring up at us. I quickly picked up the six-week-old kitten and put him in the carrier.
“It was lucky the owner of the car was around as we wouldn’t have been able to reach the cat from underneath the vehicle. The kitten was a little grubby from his ordeal but otherwise fine. The passer-by believed he had been there at least two hours but I suspect he had probably crawled in there overnight for some warmth and got himself stuck.
“Cat-astrophe truly was avoided for this intrepid kitten and both myself and the fire services were really pleased he was rescued unharmed. The RSPCA works very closely with the emergency services and we are always incredibly grateful for any help we receive from them.”
Crew manager Adrian Knight at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services said: “We are delighted we were able to work alongside the RSPCA to save this little kitten as it was a team effort. We’re glad our skills and expertise were able to safely retrieve the animal without risk of any human injury too. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services rescue a wide range of animals across the county from horses and cows, to tarantulas and dolphins.”
The kitten is now being cared for by RSPCA Stubbington Ark in Hampshire. The kitten does not have a microchip so is now being looked after by a foster carer until he is old enough to be rehomed.
If you think you may be the owner of the kitten you can contact the RSPCA’s inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
