Stowaway kitty!

[Diane Hickman]

Yesterday, during a break in the California storm, my husband and I set out for errands. He started up the engine to our GMC Sierra truck and off we went. As we were driving down the street, we both heard a loud "meow" that sounded as though it came from under the hood. He stopped, looked under the truck and found our kitty, Rocky, had settled himself on top of the spare tire that was positioned under the bed of the truck. Needless to say, we turned back (Rocky was howling the whole time) and got back to the driveway where my husband took a stick to poke him out of his hiding place. Rocky didn't need much prodding and off he went. So everyone who has outdoor cats, beware of what's underneath your autos before you take off. Give them enough time to clear out. I'm sure that he wanted to stay dry, so that's where he thought he could settle down. Yep, smart cat. We placed upside down Rubbermaid totes and blankets inside (with a hole for an entrance) on the front porch and both our cats got inside immediately. They love their new igloos.

[Cathryn Bauer]

Winter snowfall is a great time to bring cats indoors. If they don't usually go inside, they're more amenable at this time.

[Debera Anne Doran]

I have had kittens and full-grown cats that will climb up into the engine compartment during cold months to stay warm. After arriving home and parking in the garage, the engine cools down to a nice soothing warmth, the cat comes along and finds a nice warm engine (sometimes on top of the hood, sometimes in the engine compartment itself) and curls up for a nap. Check inside the engine before you start the car!!!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Did you hear about the cat that got in his owner's luggage and was zipped up in the luggage, but when the luggage was put on the runway to be picked up, the wrong man grabbed the luggage. Imagine his surprise when he opened the wrong suitcase and found the wrong clothes and a strange cat.

Story had a happy ending, though; cat was reunited with the family.

Also, I do have one cat that I let go outside because he is a rescue and he is an outdoor cat. He is so large - maybe fat is a better word - that I don't think he could get under a hood even if he wanted to.

[Judy]

I was packing the car for a weekend trip to Palm Springs (many years ago). Had a baby at the time, so I had a lot of stuff to pack in the trunk so I'd leave it open and then come out with another load. So we're heading down the freeway, about half-way there, and we hear a loud "MEOW, MEOW, MEOW." Stopped the car, popped the trunk, and there was our cat. Had to take it all the way to Palm Springs, where we had to buy the litter, box, food, and then proceed to never have housekeeping enter our room for the entire weekend. Silly cat!

[Jennie Ann]

My cats have always been indoor, but my Willie Boy, when he was young, would always scram outside whenever the front door would open. He would hide and just wait for the right opportunity. Once he got outside, he never would leave the yard and was a real scaredy cat. As he got older, he eventually outgrew going outside and never went back out. I miss my Willie.

This is a great tip about checking the cars before leaving. I live in D.C. but in the suburbs, and nobody lets their animals run loose anymore, but 40 years ago, everybody let their dogs and cats run loose. I guess it depends on where you live these days. Most areas have leash laws for dogs.

Diane, that was a GREAT idea about creating the igloo for your kitties. I am glad you have more than one, so that they can keep each other company.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Poor kitty. Good reason to have indoor cats.