In a dramatic late-night rescue mission, a feral kitten’s life was saved after it became trapped in a car engine for five harrowing hours. The heartwarming rescue took place on October 21 in Frances Street, Woolwich, following a call from a concerned member of the public.
Volunteers from the Greenwich Wildlife Network rushed to the scene after reports of a kitten’s desperate cries coming from inside the vehicle. The group spent considerable time attempting to coax the frightened feline out of the car. Still, they soon realized the rescue mission posed a significant challenge due to a similar incident involving a rabbit stuck in a car they had dealt with previously.
With no success in their attempts, the volunteers reached out to the London Fire Brigade for assistance. Swiftly responding to the call, firefighters arrived at the scene to find the distressed kitten lodged deep within the vehicle’s engine.
The rescue operation, lasting five hours, saw firefighters removing various parts of the car in a bid to reach the frightened animal. Their dedication paid off when they finally managed to extract the female kitten, believed to have sought refuge inside the engine for warmth.
Rae Gellel, founder of Greenwich Wildlife Network, expressed gratitude for the timely assistance, saying, “As always, London Fire Brigade were amazing – the firefighters arrived in minutes and were kind and attentive.
The rescue effort faced a significant hurdle when securing the owner’s permission to elevate the car, but with assistance from the police, Greenwich Wildlife Aid was granted permission to proceed. Firefighters meticulously dismantled parts of the car to safely retrieve the kitten.
The rescued kitten, named Polo by leading firefighter Elliot Lister, is believed to be very young and likely a stray cat from a litter. She is currently receiving care and socialization from volunteers at Greenwich Wildlife Network, who are working to help her adjust to human interaction.
Rae Gellel explained the difference between a feral cat and a regular stray, saying that feral cats have never had a home and have had no contact with humans during their early weeks of life, making them more sensitive and fearful of human interaction.
Polo, who arrived with fleas and parasites following her time on the streets, is gradually learning to trust humans and is expected to be available for adoption in the coming weeks.
Firefighter Elliot Lister, who was involved in the rescue, recalled, “When the kitten came out, I was really surprised at how small it was – it was about the size of an orange and was probably a newborn. I think that without our help, it was too young to have made its own way out of the car.”
The London Fire Brigade urged vehicle owners to check for animals in their cars before starting their engines, especially as winter approaches. They encouraged people to call the RSPCA initially if they encounter animals in distress and promised to assist when their specialized equipment is required.
