Stray kitten survives 800-mile drive from New Jersey to Georgia trapped under a UGA student's car, gets saved by mechanics who dismantle the car to rescue him

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Aug 26, 2026 4:45 PM EDT

Didn't this kitten's mom and dad teach him that hitchhiking is dangerous?

If you're a Millennial or a Gen Xer, you probably grew up with the concept of "stranger danger". Don't trust anyone you don't know, even if they say they know your parents. And under no circumstances were you to get in someone's car, not even if they said they had candy, puppies, or whatever else they might use to lure you into their vehicle. This then led to the even more forbidden topic of hitchhiking, which was, according to our parents, where all crimes started. But, not everyone grew up learning about the dangers of such things, just like the kitten who was rescued recently from underneath a University of Georgia student's car.

How he got himself stuck inside her car bumper still remains a meowstery, but luckily, he survived the 800-mile drive from New Jersey to Georgia over the course of nearly 11 hours. They only noticed him when the student stopped and saw his little paw hanging out from underneath her car, at which point she called the police for help. Unable to get him out, they took the car to Tires Plus on College Station Road, where mechanics dismantled the car piece by piece in order to get this little hitchhiker out.

Now safe and sound, this floofy gray kitten is up for adoption thanks to Campus Cats UGA, and from now on, will be riding inside the car instead of underneath it. All of his kitten brothers and sisters will never believe him when he tells them about the craziest Uber ride of his life.

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beanexplains A stray kitten survived an 800-mile journey from New Jersey to Georgia after becoming trapped underneath a car. The kitten remained hidden beneath the vehicle throughout the trip and was only discovered after arriving in Georgia.

You tend to see these kinds of stories more so in the colder months when stray cats seek out places to stay warm. This is why it's always impurrtant to check your car for any signs of feline activity in the winter, you never know who might be hiding out next to your engine!

In all seriousness, though, it's quite the miracle that this kitten survived. 11 hours in the summer heat, plus the roar of the engine and all the bumps on the way - this kitten is a fighter. We hope he finds a good home soon!