Warning as cats suffer terrible burns after climbing into car engine bays

Animal rescuers in the UAE urge people to check their cars before driving off

British resident Tanya-Jane Carter says her cat Samuel suffered a painful tail injury and several burns after he climbed into the engine bay of a neighbour’s car about two years ago. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter

Samuel was discovered only when the neighbour returned home after a 30-minute drive. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter

Samuel, who was traced back to his owner using his microchip, was in a bad state and his tail had to be partly amputated because it was severely injured. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter

Samuel was badly traumatised by the accident. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter

An injured cat rescued by Dubai resident Fawaz Kanaan. He has been rescuing cats in the UAE for more than a decade and says it is common for animals to be hurt after taking refuge in engine bays. Courtesy: Fawaz Kanaan

Cats often hide in larger vehicles such as SUVs because they have more space in the engine bay, says Fawaz Kanaan. Courtesy: Fawaz Kanaan

Dubai resident Sabrina Sandolo recently discovered a cat had climbed into the engine bay of her vehicle. Courtesy: Sabrina Sandolo

The cat hides inside the engine bay of a SUV. Courtesy: Sabrina Sandolo

Car owners in the UAE are being urged to check their vehicles before they drive off to ensure that cats or other animals are not hiding under the bonnet.

Animal rescuers are regularly called out to incidents in which cats suffered horrific injuries after finding a place to rest around the engine.

The calls for vigilance from rescuers and pet owners came after a Dubai resident shared pictures of her vehicle after a cat crawled into the engine bay.

The pictures were shared on Facebook last month by Dubai resident Sabrina Sandolo, who took them after she spotted a ginger cat, unaware of the danger it faced, lying down behind the front grille of her Ford.

Had Ms Sandolo, who had parked her vehicle in Al Badaa area of Dubai, not checked the vehicle before driving off, the cat could have been seriously hurt, she said.

“I’m used to checking my vehicle, as cats like to hide, but it usually happens during the night or early morning,” she said.

"I was surprised to notice a cat hiding during the hottest part of the day and it took some convincing to get her out. If I hadn't noticed her, she would have been injured, no doubt about it."

She said checking a vehicle took a few seconds and could save an animal's life and prevent damage to the car or van.

Fawaz Kanaan, a Syrian events organiser who lives in Dubai and has been rescuing cats in the UAE for more than a decade, said it was common for animals to get hurt after taking refuge in engines.

He has rescued cats that suffered serious injuries after crawling into vehicle engine bays, including badly damaged limbs or lacerations that cover much of the body.

“It happens all the time,” he said.

"Cats are always trying to find a quiet place to sleep, especially when cars have been parked for a while, then suddenly [the driver] starts the engine."

It happens more with larger vehicles such as SUVs, he said, because they have more space in the engine bay where cats or other animals, such as birds, may hide.

There are risks year round, because cats escape colder weather during the winter and seek shade in the summer. Pregnant females sometimes even have litters in engine bays.

“Most of them, they get injured and they get a really deep cut,” Mr Kanaan said.

“The last one was two or three months ago. We had to take the cat to the vet and the doctor had to amputate the leg.”

Car owners should bang on the front of their vehicle to scare away cats before they drive off and open the bonnet to double check there are no animals, he said.

If the cat refuses to move, he advises throwing water at it. This scares the animal off without causing it harm.

Among the pet owners who know the dangers well is British resident Tanya-Jane Carter, whose cat Samuel suffered tail injuries and several burns after he climbed into the engine bay of a neighbour's car about two years ago.

Samuel is a black-and-white Arabian Mau and was 10 when he was hurt.

The cat was discovered only when the neighbour returned home after a 30-minute drive.

“She knew something was wrong,” said Ms Carter, who has lived in Dubai for 18 years.

"They opened up the car and found our cat. Fortunately, they were cat owners themselves and they took him to the vet."

Samuel, who was traced back to his owner using his microchip, was in "a very bad state" and his tail had to be partly amputated because it was severely injured.

The bill ran to thousands of dirhams.

For weeks after his ordeal, Samuel, who now shares Ms Carter's home with three female cats, appeared traumatised and hid himself away because he was scared.

“Bang on the bonnet before you even start the car,” Ms Carter said.

“I have been told by garages that they have found dead animals underneath the bonnet.”

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