A Cautionary Tale

[SteveMSJ]

A story as a warning to others.
We set off to the supermarket in our MG4 gliding smooth and quiet out of the drive as usual. Over the speed bumps by the school. No traffic at junctions so didn’t come to stop until we were queuing for the roundabout in the centre of our town, nearly 2 miles from home.
Heard frantic meowing from beneath us. Leaped out and peered under the car expecting to see some poor injured animal but nothing to be seen.
Then our cat jumped out beside the rear wheel, shot across the main road, dodging cars, through a passage and over a wall and disappeared. She must have climbed into the rear undertray and inadvertently hitched a lift into town.
We searched the maze of streets, shops and yards, but no chance of finding her.
The next day we posted notices in all the cafes and other notice boards but were not hopeful. Two days later, in the middle of the night, she popped in through the cat door completely soaked through but otherwise no worse for wear. I’ve no idea how she managed to navigate her way home but we were very pleased to have her back

You hear of animals climbing in to ICE car engine bays for warmth but obviously as soon as the engine is started they are out like a shot. The trouble with an EV is that by the time they panic you are moving at speed. At least she had the sense not to jump out until we came to a stop. It must have been a pretty frightening ride though, particularly over the speed bumps

If you look under the car behind the passenger side rear wheel you can see that there is just space for a cat to squeeze in by the motor/differential. You wouldn’t see the cat by just glancing under the car. I suspect she’ll never go in there again but I will be checking in future before driving off.

Don’t let an EV hater see this or it will be added to the list of reasons not to own one

 

[GaryMG4]

Bet that was a stressful couple of days. I must check that out as we have a very nosey/adventurous cat.

 

[Everest]

Two days later, in the middle of the night, she popped in through the cat door completely soaked through but otherwise no worse for wear. I’ve no idea how she managed to navigate her way home but we were very pleased to have her back

Phew! Clever cat

 

[Tight Git]

Glad you got her back safely!

Many years ago my mother set off from home and the cat was on the roof without her knowing. At the junction about half a mile from home she accelerated briskly (Golf GTI!) and the cat flew off the back of the roof and promptly disappeared into a hedge. Fortunately she also turned up no worse for wear.

 

[fnegroni]

Don’t let an EV hater see this or it will be added to the list of reasons not to own one

my memories of cats and ICE are quite gruesome so i don't think this will ever be the case with EVs

I once managed to scoop up a low flying bird in a car with an unconventionally low and long front intake with a tray and a radiator mounted at 45 degrees. the bird didn't make it unfortunately.

 

[Rolfe]

That's a truly scary story. Particularly for me since, nine years ago, my cat vanished for two months and was finally traced living feral on a farm in the hills three miles away. I still bear the scars. He now wears this on his collar all the time, no exceptions.

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The way your cat got home is quite well understood. Cats don't actually have a good sense of direction when out of their normal range. When lost they wander around more or less at random, but generally moving further out from the place they were lost in, until they find themselves in a place they recognise, from where they can find their way home. If they're too far to do this, or if they wander in the wrong direction, they may never get home unless you mount a search (as I did). Your cat was obviously resourceful and determined and lucky.

In my cat's case, he seems to have managed to cross a small river which he was unable to re-cross, although it wasn't much more than 100 yards from home. After some time trying to circle round and failing (there were sightings), he wandered away from the village, found a hunting range, and taught himself to hunt. It may be relevant that in his normal roamings (I discovered later) he frequented a couple of horse establishments, and the farm where he was found also bred ponies.

 

[Rolfe]

my memories of cats and ICE are quite gruesome so i don't think this will ever be the case with EVs

I once managed to scoop up a low flying bird in a car with an unconventionally low and long front intake with a tray and a radiator mounted at 45 degrees. the bird didn't make it unfortunately.

That is a rather sensitive subject.

 

[Archev]

A story as a warning to others.
We set off to the supermarket in our MG4 gliding smooth and quiet out of the drive as usual. Over the speed bumps by the school. No traffic at junctions so didn’t come to stop until we were queuing for the roundabout in the centre of our town, nearly 2 miles from home.
Heard frantic meowing from beneath us. Leaped out and peered under the car expecting to see some poor injured animal but nothing to be seen.
Then our cat jumped out beside the rear wheel, shot across the main road, dodging cars, through a passage and over a wall and disappeared. She must have climbed into the rear undertray and inadvertently hitched a lift into town.
We searched the maze of streets, shops and yards, but no chance of finding her.
The next day we posted notices in all the cafes and other notice boards but were not hopeful. Two days later, in the middle of the night, she popped in through the cat door completely soaked through but otherwise no worse for wear. I’ve no idea how she managed to navigate her way home but we were very pleased to have her back

You hear of animals climbing in to ICE car engine bays for warmth but obviously as soon as the engine is started they are out like a shot. The trouble with an EV is that by the time they panic you are moving at speed. At least she had the sense not to jump out until we came to a stop. It must have been a pretty frightening ride though, particularly over the speed bumps

If you look under the car behind the passenger side rear wheel you can see that there is just space for a cat to squeeze in by the motor/differential. You wouldn’t see the cat by just glancing under the car. I suspect she’ll never go in there again but I will be checking in future before driving off.

Don’t let an EV hater see this or it will be added to the list of reasons not to own one

Purrfect Catnav obviously