The true story about a cat that climbed up into my car... and took us both for a ride

October 26, 2022

It all started with my hairdryer dying on me.

My house was cold when I woke up because during fall in Georgia, no one knows when the hell to have the A/C on versus the heat. Therefore when I woke up, the house was 64 degrees. So when my hair dryer kicked it, my hair had to dry naturally and my scalp felt cold all day. Ugh.

Since my mom was out of town, I’d been driving to and from her home every morning and evening to take out her dog, Buddy, and give him food and snuggles. 

So that day after work and dinner, I made up my mind to stop by Walmart on the way to my mom's and pick up a hairdryer.

Before I left, I dumped what was left of the (super amazing) pork roast from the crock pot since it was almost all the fat part out by the fence.

Fifteen or so minutes later, I went to let my cat Fitz  out the back door where he made a beeline to where there were 8 outdoor feral cats convened for their feast a la pork roast at the fence. He spooked some who ran toward my car.

(Psst: this is the part where the plot thickens.)

A few minutes later, I got in my car and start heading to Walmart. About three-fourths of the way there, I feel something weird happening with my car. Like something flapping. I panic. Do I have a flat tire?

I pull into the parking lot of Sam’s and park in the first available spot.

The tires are fine. I look under the car.

I see the front half of a cat hanging out.

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Now listen. Here's the thing about me and cats.

I’m the girl who spent emergency vet money to have my cat saved from a urinary block. I’m the girl who adopted a blind cat who would eventually need a double enucleation. I’m the girl who drove to Arby’s to get the lovable stray and give him a home. I’m the one who adopted the girls’ next door’s cat who was “a feral holy terror” and rehomed her.

Needless to say, I lost my everlasting shit.

I didn’t know if it was dead but I assumed it was. I’m in a thin long sleeved shirt and the temperature is dropping.

A guy in a beat up van pulls up thinking I have car issues because I’m a damsel clearly in distress circling my car that has the hood up.

I explain to him what’s going on and he’s “from out west where he was a vet tech” of course. So now I’m like, Great, there’s an injured/dead/dying cat hanging out of my car and I’m about to get abducted. Faaaantastic.

I call my neighbor because it’s one of her outdoor cats and she starts booking it over to Sam’s.

Meanwhile, Western Vet Tech Dude tries to get the cat but it’s “wrapped around the axle” or some form of code and I say thanks, my powerlifting boyfriend is on the way with a jack. He leaves but gives me a blanket in case I get the kitty out. Thanks, man.

My neighbor arrives with cat food and a carrier and towel and tries to coax it out. It’s not budging.

By this point at least 10 people have slowed and asked if I needed help. When I shout “there’s a cat stuck in my car!” They’re like “Damn! Hope it works out!”

Except an old SUV with one woman and two teens.

When I tell her what’s going on, she pulls right into a space, gets out with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, and all 5 feet, 70 pounds of her says “alright, we gon' get this kitty out.”

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She and her daughter and her daughter’s friend (not sure of the dynamic there, honestly) all get under/over my car and either push from the open hood or pull from underneath like some strange birthing situation.

One girl tries to lift the front of my car while the others try and navigate the kitty out. She says it’s wrapped around the axle and stuck between the 3-frame (this must be code). The woman has kept her cigarette in her mouth the whole time, bless her (and at this point I’m considering asking her if I could bum one because fuck if I need one, too).

The cat is alive. But there are varying reports of “it’s bleeding heavily” and “its back is messed up” and ”its paws are hurt” and “did you drag it?” And I’m like “probably” all the while I’m so upset and on edge and cold and the dog still needs to be let out and kitty, please be ok.

I tell my neighbor if it comes out alive but mangled, we will rush it to the emergency vet to be euthanized.

So as my neighbor and I are standing next to the car, traumatized, and the ladies are all under my car, another lady and a man pull up and decide to help, too.

At this point, while I’m thankful, I’m also wondering if this is hurting the cat more. I don’t know what to do.

New Guy gets under the car and assess that it’s stuck, wrapped around the axle thingy next to the tire (more code) and she goes to get a broom that’s in her car (not judging, I have random shit in mine too, sister) to push the kitty around the A-frame thingy (additional code).

The five of them continue their valiant efforts. Then someone shows up with a jack.

He jacks up the car and within 10 minutes, they all get the kitty out. It tries to run off (good sign!) and I don’t see blood, and we get it in the carrier and in my back seat. I thank them all a million times and rush to the emergency vet. My neighbor follows.

We take the kitty in and a vet tech tries to examine the cat, but because it’s upset (you would be too!) and feral, they can’t look at it without tranquillizing it. But they do say it does NOT need to be put down.

So my neighbor and I decide to let her take it back and monitor it. If things turn for the worst, we can take it to my vet who has a Good Samaritan fund and does not charge for euthanizations like this.

I finally head to my mom’s and let Buddy out. It’s late. Buddy wants me to stay but I can’t. I’m traumatized and numb and I give him a treat and promise I’ll stay extra long tomorrow.

I drive to Publix. I get the only hairdryer they have and a bottle of red wine. Because it is now officially a bottle-of-red-wine kind of evening.

And that’s the story of the cat who was stuck in my car, but who was alive, and made it out.