Call to save feline lives as car bonnets offer winter shelters

Animal lovers in the Kingdom have urged motorists to be vigilant after incidents of cats becoming trapped under vehicles. They say it is common for cats, during winter, to find its way inside the bonnets of cars and curl next to the engine without realising the hidden danger.

“As temperatures get lower, especially outdoors, cats search for unusual places to find warmth and one such place is under the bonnet. “The behaviour is particularly seen in stray cats, which often do not have proper shelters. Various residents have reported such incidents and have urged others to make sure that they do not turn on the car without ensuring that no animals are trapped inside the engine.

“Once the vehicle gets moving, the cats are stuck there is no way to escape.” Speaking to Tribune, Khalifa, a Manama resident, recalled saving a cat one fine morning a few days ago. “As soon as I got inside the car, I heard a cat meowing. I though the cat was under the vehicle and would run away once I start the engine. I started the engine but the cat was still there. Then I opened the hood and the cat was there.” Mechanics confirmed to Tribune that it is possible for cats to get under the hood from underneath the car.

“Not only small cats, but even bigger ones can also get inside since there is enough space to do so,” Abdulqader, a mechanic from Arad, said. A citizen, who doesn’t want to be named, said he almost killed a cat after driving his car without being aware of the animal’s presence inside the engine.