Curious kitten finally freed

MURRAY WILSON

POOR KITTY: Acacia Court Motel owner Joan Busuttin with the frightened kitten beside the Ford Focus which served as an impromptu prison.

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The Palmerston North kitten that spent an evening imprisoned inside a car engine is now looking for a new home.

The grey and white kitten was found stuck under the chassis of a rented Ford Focus at the Acacia Court Motel, on Tremaine Ave, about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

Motel owner Joan Busuttin had just arrived home from dinner with her son when she heard meowing under the bonnet.

"He was wedged so tight he couldn't move.

"But going by the tone of the meow, he wasn't injured or in pain."

An SPCA employee and firefighters were called to the motel, but were unable to release the kitten.

An Automobile Association worker loosened the area where the kitten was wedged, but it remained trapped.

"He squirmed out but then he just ran into different parts of the engine," Mrs Busuttin said.

She put the car in a garage with the bonnet up, and left food and milk out.

When she woke up about 6am yesterday, the kitten had escaped, but was distressed and shaking.

"Well you would be scared, wouldn't you? I think if he had nine lives, well, he's got eight now."

Mrs Busuttin could not keep the kitten, so she hoped its owner would come forward, or someone would adopt it.

"My son thought we should call him Focus."

Anyone interested in adopting the kitten can call the Acacia Court Motel on 3583471.

- © Fairfax NZ News