A Texas family's search for their missing cat took an unexpected turn when they discovered she was trapped inside their own Tesla. Getting her out safely, however, required help from firefighters.
Here's what to know
When a family's beloved cat went missing for several hours, they gathered in their Tesla to go search the neighborhood, according to the Cross Timbers Gazette. However, before driving off, they heard a meowing sound and realized that their cat was stuck in the vehicle's engine compartment. The Lewisville Fire Department responded to the family's call for help.
"This was not a 'maybe she will jump out if we open the hood' situation," the Lewisville Fire Department wrote in a post on Facebook. "She was stuck stuck."
Crews spent roughly 40 minutes working around the Tesla's mechanical components before they could pull the feline to safety, the Cross Timbers Gazette reported. The cat, named Sakura, had managed to wriggle herself so deep into the vehicle's engine compartment that she was beyond the firefighters' immediate reach.
However, by disassembling the vehicle's undercarriage piece by piece, the rescuers were able to safely reach and remove Sakura.
"We're happy to report that Sakura the cat is now safe, sound, and back in her humans' arms," the Lewisville Fire Department wrote.
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The crew earned the department's praise for its patience and careful work around the vehicle's complex mechanical components. "Huge thanks to our patient crew for their mechanical prowess," the department's Facebook post said.
Thankfully, with everything having turned out okay in the end, the Lewisville FD was able to joke about the matter, writing, "They say curiosity killed the cat, but in Lewisville, curiosity just gets you intimately acquainted with the underbody of an EV."
What commenters said
The Lewisville Fire Department's post attracted a lot of attention online, with commenters rushing to give their takes.
"Thank you, Superheroes!" exclaimed one grateful poster.
"A purrrrfect job by LFD!" joked another.
"I ADORE animals (and have two cats) so you have won serious cool points for doing this," chimed in a third user. "Not that you didn't already have cool points for fighting fires and all the other stuff you do, but now you have more. THANK YOU!"
Where can I learn more?
The following stories look at other situations in which cats have needed careful rescues after getting stuck inside vehicles.
• In England, a cat survived after spending eight hours trapped inside a car engine.
• In Iowa, tow operators removed a Honda's front clip to free a trapped kitten.
• In Oklahoma, rescuers freed a kitten whose hip got caught in engine parts.
• Rescuers dismantled an 18-wheeler's engine to free a newborn kitten now thriving in care.
• A kitten found crying inside a Lamborghini vent was thriving after a dramatic rescue.
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