A stray kitten, apparently seeking shelter, survived an approximately 800-mile car trip from New Jersey to Georgia while riding beneath the moving vehicle.
Here's what to know
The driver, Jaden, a University of Georgia ecology major, first realized something was wrong after getting back to Athens and spotting the paw reaching out of her vehicle. Until then, she had no idea a kitten had crawled into the car before her drive south.
As Fox 5 Atlanta reported, UGA police were called to help, and a rescue later continued at a Tires Plus on College Station Road. To free the animal, workers removed parts of the undercarriage to make enough room to reach him safely. Despite traveling all that way under the car, the kitten survived.
A veterinary check afterward found the kitten in good health. He has since been named 'Jersey,' a nod to the state where the kitten's trip started, per Fox 5 Atlanta.
Jersey was put up for adoption through Cat Zip Alliance - Campus Cats in Athens, which was caring for him.
The adoption group posted an update about Jersey's condition on Facebook, writing, "Our vet found no apparent issues from his journey, just a bit of a kitten cold! Weighed 2.5 lbs which makes him about 10 weeks old. Purred up a storm in Dr. Dodds' arms."
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More background
Animals often seek out tight, sheltered spaces when they are frightened, cold, or trying to hide. Under the hood, inside wheel wells, and beneath vehicles can all become dangerous hiding spots for cats, kittens, and other wildlife.
If an animal appears trapped in a vehicle, don't try to force it out yourself if doing so could cause injury. Calling local animal rescue groups, police, or a mechanic may be the safest option, particularly when parts of the car need to be removed in order to safely get the animal out.
For Jersey, what comes next will be far less dramatic than the ride he endured.
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