A CARLISLE veterinary practice are urging cat owners to check under their cars before starting the engine, after witnessing the life-threatening injuries that can be sustained.
Four-year-old cat Harvey, who lives in Carlisle, narrowly escaped with his life in February this year after the rubber alternator belt on a car engine sheared a large section of his body.
Harvey’s owner Sian Evans-Carpenter said: “Harvey always spent the night outside, but regular as clockwork he’d appear back for his breakfast.
"One Friday morning he didn’t come home, and he only returned at around 8pm that night which was very out of character.
"He had huge chunks of fur missing from his shoulder all the way to his back leg, he couldn’t move his tail and was clearly unsettled and in a lot of pain.”
Sian and her partner Jamie Harris monitored Harvey overnight and on Saturday morning called Paragon Vets in Dalston, as they were very concerned about him.
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On that same Saturday morning, the couple were waiting for the RAC to come to their house as the previous morning the car had turned over but failed to start.
When the breakdown patrol inspected the engine, he discovered that the alternator belt had come off and showed it to them.
Sian said: “We immediately saw it looked hairy and asked if that was how it was meant to be.
"On closer inspection the penny suddenly dropped, and we realised it was Harvey’s fur.”
When Harvey returned to Paragon he was improving, however he still had no use of his tail, but thankfully he was able to regain use of his tail before amputation.
Small animal vet Laura Binnie at Paragon said: "Harvey is extremely lucky; he could easily have lost his life. We know that cats like to go into warm engines in the colder months and hide under cars when it’s hot too.
“Many people are of the opinion that a cat will move when they start the engine, but that doesn’t account for animals sleeping within it. My advice would be to have a quick glance under your vehicle before starting it, and to give the bonnet a bit of a tap to awaken any felines that may be resting there.”
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