THE CAT THAT SURVIVED IN A CAR ENGINE

I stumbled across this amazing story last night that happened in Bronx, New York. This beautiful tan and white Tabby cat survived a two mile car ride trapped in the engine of a Sport Utility Vehicle. The poor terrified cat was wedged so severely inside that the battery and parts of the engine parts had to be removed to free him! The brave kitty is doing just fine now and apparently has found himself a home.

During the winter months it is common for cats to sleep under hoods of cars for warmth and protection. Once the vehicle is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. Keep in mind, cats under your hood don't necessarily mean they are strays! They could be your neighbor's cat that didn't make it the house in time for last call for lights out. There's a very simple solution that every one can do to avoid these feline casualties this season. Simply bang on the hood of your car prior to getting in and starting it up! This gives the sleeping kitty a wake up call that it's time to get up and get out!

It's important to remember that engine coolant and antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to clean spills from your vehicle. Propylene glycol and methyl alcohol can cause gastrointestinal irritation, central nervous system depression and death from respiratory failure.

There's a few winter tips that you can easily follow to keep your pets safe for the cold months.

1. Keep cats inside as much as possible and check that they are inside before you go to sleep at night. Felines can easily freeze or like our Tabby friend become a casualty of being stuck in a car engine.

2. Never let dogs off their leash on snow or ice. Dog's can easily their scent during a snowstorm and become lost and be sure to have them wear their ID tags.

3. Wipe your dog's legs and stomach off when coming in from a walk. They can easily ingest salt or antifreeze simply from licking themselves clean. It's also important to check their paw pads since they can bleed from encrusted ice.

4. Never shave your dogs down in the winter. A long coat provides warmth and if you have a short haired dog buy a coat to keep their stomach warm and dry.

5. Never leave your dog (or cat if they happen to like car rides) in the car during the cold months. A car acts like a refrigerator, keeping the cold air in and can freeze your best friend.

6. Have a warm place for your pet to sleep off the floor and away from the draft like a pet bed or blanket. Unless of course you have two Alaskan Malamutes like me, then IF you can bribe them to come in from the snow they will find the coldest place in front of a door to sleep which always helps keeping your house warm! lol

It's important to take extra special care of your pet in the cold months and the animals in your neighborhood. Just because there's a dog or cat in your yard doesn't mean they are a stray. They could be from a few streets over and just lost their scent in the snow and desperately want to find their way home. Treat these animals the way you would want someone treating your best friend if they found them after they got lost! Have a safe winter!