‘They said there’s a cat under your car. ‘: Idaho couple rescue stowaway stray cat hiding in hood of their car after trip to Home Depot, just moments before an interstate trip

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Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jan 10, 2026 3:00 PM EST

For better or worse our cats get themselves embroiled in some of the strangest of situations. You never quite know where and how a cat is going to come into your life. A fact which is very much accentuated by the story we have for you today which should serve as a reminder to all of you living in cold climates to check your cars thoroughly for all kinds of cat life before heading out for a drive. Not something that you would expect to be necessary or needed as most stray cats will simply run away the moment you step anywhere near them.

But in the case that they might be sleepy, a little too cozy or just a bit slow, as in the case of this cat, it might be worth taking a look. Thankfully, this happened to some well-seasoned cat people who knew just what to do with the frazzled feline upon finding it and everything turned out ok. But it is terrifying to think how wrong things could have gone. So spare a thought for your neighborhood cats before starting your car this winter.

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    "She was understandably scared."
    via RamGuy1824
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    So early last month....December '25...I was driving across town to our local Home Depot. On the way there I smelled something hot. It wasn't the usual car smell. Got there and out of the car, smelled or heard
    via RamGuy1824
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    nothing so I shrugged it off and did my shopping. Came back to my car and there's a family standing around it. They said there's a cat under your car. Popped the hood and there she was. Got her out. She was
    via RamGuy1824
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    understandably scared. I couldn't leave her in a busy parking lot next to a busy road so I took her back home. Lucky for her she was discovered because I had planned on getting on the nearby
    via RamGuy1824
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    9 H FE
    via RamGuy1824
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    interstate to go to the next city over. I put her in the garage, which stays above freezing, to keep her away from our other two cats. She had singed hair, so that was what I smelled. She had a hard spot on her
    via RamGuy1824

  • What in the actual heck? It is not all too uncommon for a cat (likely of the scaredy kind) to find themselves curled up under the hood of a car when things get cold. But dang, this must have been one of those slower, or lazier cats for it to not move itself when it heard hoomans coming its way. Nonetheless, it is astounding that it managed to survive such a trip with nothing more than a bit of singed fur. This kind of calamity could have ended with far more terror than it did.

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    side which at first I thought was burnt/matted hair but it started peeling up and was red underneath so I took her to a vet. For the past week I've been giving her an oral al. " and a salve for the wound.
    via RamGuy1824
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    I was supposed to keep her in an e collar but she completely wigged out, rolling and crying. AND still managed to get out of it. So I apply the salve an let it absorb in and watch her for a half hour to an
    via RamGuy1824
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    CRAFTSMAN
    via RamGuy1824
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    hour to let it absorb in so she doesn't lick it off. The spot seems to be healing up. My wife and I both are pet lovers. We just lost her 17 year
    via RamGuy1824
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    old senior cat a week prior (I posted about this in another subreddit )leaving us with my two cats | brought with me. She and I discussed it and really don't want three cats again. That and it
    via RamGuy1824
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    being so soon after loosing the other one it'd feel like we were trying to replace her. I've posted on lost and found pets groups on social media but no one has claimed her or showed interest in adopting
    via RamGuy1824
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    her. I think she may have been left behind by neighbors that moved out. But she isn't chipped and I don't know how to find the old neighbors to ask them about it. My plan was to keep her
    via RamGuy1824
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    Cheezburger Image 10593421568
    via RamGuy1824

  • It is a tough one. What do you do when the cat you have found does not suit your family, is not being sought after for adoption and its original owners are unreachable? Most would automatically head for the nearest shelter or rescue and say that’s job done. But as this caring couple likely knew, a life at any shelter is usually short lived and likely devoid of love. Which quite frankly any and all animals deserve better than. 

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    inside until I knew she was ok and healthy. Now I'm waiting for the wound to heal up. I don't want to take her to "the pound". A relative put me in touch with a group that's mainly TNR, they gave me a list
    via RamGuy1824
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    of other groups to try. One is a nearby cat and kitten only rescue. I've thought about reaching out and talking to them. The only other thing would be to make her an outside cat and provide her food, water, and
    via RamGuy1824
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    shelter. Besides the usual dangers that outdoor cats face we live in the city and there are plenty of cats roaming around as it is. The vet said they found what they believe to be a spay scar on her so
    via RamGuy1824
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    Cheezburger Image 10593421312
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    at least she won't be having kittens. She snuck in past me and met my other cats and that didn't go so well!! Yes I know they'd need to be introduced gradually. But like my old vet once told me... you increase
    via RamGuy1824
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    the risk for behavior issues when you add to your indoor cat population. I don't want to have to deal with potential fights, u. e marking, and so forth. Plus no clue if this new kitty would be
    via RamGuy1824
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    destructive. But at the same time it'd be nice if she could end up in a good home, hence the rescue idea. Sorry for the long post!!
    via RamGuy1824

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cat Idaho hood stray cat car moments home depot reddit story under cat story trip hiding couple rescue
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