A North Andover family's cat decided to accompany the family on a ski trip to Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire...by riding the engine compartment!
Maddie, a seven-month-old Tabby cat, hid in the engine compartment of the family's Hummer for the 90-minute, 100-mile ride.
Cat owner Stephanie Cooke told WHDH-Channel 7 that the family discovered the feline stowaway when they arrived at the Mount Sunapee ski area to hear meowing coming from under the hood of the car. Cooke's husband lifted up the hood, expecting the worse when Maddie popped up out of the engine compartment, completely unscathed.
Why Do Cats Hide In the Car's Engine Compartment?
Many cats will climb up into the engine compartment of a parked car during cold weather. Cats typically climb under the car hood during the cold, winter months, seeking the warmth that emanates from a car engine.Some cats have been seriously injured or killed by engine components, such as fan belts. In fact, in late 2008, Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston surgically reattached a portion of a cat's face after the feline was injured while hiding under the hood of a car.
How Do I Prevent Cats From Climbing Under the Hood of My Car?
So how do you prevent a cat from climbing under the hood and into your car's engine compartment? Knocking on the hood is one simple yet effective method of getting a cat to jump out of the car's engine compartment before you start the car. Beeping the car's horn before starting the car engine is another great way to get a cat to climb out of a car's engine compartment, saving the cat from possible injury or even death.
Keeping cats indoors during the cold winter months is always a good rule of thumb, as it prevents a cat from suffering injuries from a car engine after climbing under the car's hood, along wtih other cold-related health problems like hypothermia.
Notably, cars aren't the only danger facing pets during the winter. In Hingham Harbor, a dog fell through the thin ice and into the freezing water - yet another common danger to pets in the winter.
If your cat does get injured or suffer from hypothermia, you may need to take your cat to a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic. Check out Boston Area's 24-Hour Veterinary Clinics to learn more.
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