Month-old kitten in S'pore hides near engine in car bonnet for 7 hours

After a private hire vehicle (PHV) driver and his friend noticed mewing sounds from his car at around 10:45am on Feb. 17, he opened the car's bonnet to investigate.

To his surprise, the driver, surnamed Zhuo (transliteration from Chinese), found a black and white cat near his car engine, and it did not come out even when lured with cat food, reported Shin Min Daily News.

After Zhuo's friend, who is a member of Rescuers Commewnity, sought help on Facebook, about five members of the animal welfare society arrived at the scene with a tow truck.

The tow truck subsequently lifted the car, and a society member plucked the cat from underneath the vehicle's chassis at around 5pm, almost seven hours after it was first found stuck inside.

Tried to guide cat out

Speaking to Shin Min, Zhuo said he was ferrying a passenger at around 9:15am on Feb. 17 when he suddenly heard faint mewing noises.

"However, when I saw the passenger in the backseat playing with their phone, I thought the sounds originated from there," recounted Zhuo.

After Zhuo and his friend found the cat near the car engine, they tried to guide it out by calling it and luring it with cat food they had bought from a store nearby.

When their efforts were futile, Zhuo's friend sought help on Facebook, and the post attracted several comments.

"Some of the commenters offered suggestions, including advising us not to scare the cat and to wait for professionals to take care of the matter," said Zhuo.

Cat 'kept shivering & crying' after being rescued

According to Shin Min, the people who arrived at the scene to help included the animal welfare society's person-in-charge, Brenda Wang.

Wang told the Chinese daily that after the tow truck lifted the car, the truck operator went underneath the car and removed the covering under the bonnet.

When the cat was successfully rescued from the car's bonnet, Zhuo said it "kept shivering and crying".

He then entrusted the cat to Wang's care.

Shin Min reported that it understands that the tow truck service cost S$80, and the fee was paid for by the cat welfare society members.

Wang will look for new home for cat soon

According to Wang, she would be housing the cat, which appeared to be around five weeks old, at her cat hotel for now, reported Shin Min.

"We have a stand-alone cubicle for these community cats. I will also bring it to the vet for checks," she shared.

Wang added that she had given the cat a bath and would start looking for its new owner after a seven-day cooling-off period.

Those keen on adopting the kitten can contact Rescuers Commewnity.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News