ARL Caring for 8-Week-Old Community Kitten Found in Car Engine Compartment
ARL reminds the public to be aware of community cats and kittens
The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is currently caring for an eight-week-old kitten that found itself in a precarious position and was discovered in the engine compartment of a vehicle in Belmont, MA.
Fortunately, the kitten was not injured in its hiding place and is now ready to find his new home.
ARL wishes to remind the public that community cats seeking shelter inside the engine compartment of a vehicle is not uncommon, and to take some extra precautions before entering your vehicle, particularly if there are community cats around your property or neighborhood.
The kitten, now aptly named Chevy, was reported to Belmont Animal Control when the kitten was heard mewing in the vehicle owner’s driveway.
The Good Samaritan popped the hood to investigate, and seeing daylight, the frightened kitten scampered from engine compartment and found an old fox den to hide in.
Once on-scene, the Belmont Animal Control Officer used a YouTube video of a kitten mewing to lure Chevy out, and was able to safely handle him and place him in a carrier for transport.
The community kitten was brought to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care & Adoption Center where he received a veterinary exam and a quiet place to decompress from his ordeal.
The kitten was deemed healthy and also lucky, as he was uninjured while hiding in the engine compartment.
While under two pounds upon intake, the kitten quickly gained a little weight, has been neutered and vaccinated and is available for adoption at ARL’s Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center, which is open to the public from 1-6 p.m.
Chevy’s adventure is the third instance of a cat finding refuge in the engine compartment in less than a year for ARL.
It’s also important to note that each instance did not happen during winter months, when it’s more common to see this activity.
ARL reminds the public, particularly in areas where community reside, to conduct a visual check of their vehicle and to bang on the hood before entering to scare off any animal that may be seeking shelter under the hood.
ARL is the only local large animal welfare organization with a dedicated community cat program. Learn more about ARL’s efforts to help these vulnerable animals.