When Debbie Tighe made the drive from Uckfield to Pulborough, UK, she had no idea what she would encounter. And it was when she arrived at the Lincoln Stud stables for a horse jumping competition, that things changed. But it wasn’t due to the excitement buzzing around the yard. It was something very unexpected that she had actually brought with her from home unknowingly. And she only realized it when she heard an odd sound coming from the “bonnet” or engine compartment of her vehicle.
Because there was no denying the loud sound of desperate meowing coming from within her vehicle!
Which means that the animal had ridden about 40 miles in the dangerous position!
Immediately Debbie called her friend Olivia Taplin over to help. But the ladies weren’t able to locate where the sounds were originating from. They knew they couldn’t just walk away from the kitten, so they reached out to the local fire brigade. 
Despite our efforts we couldn’t get him out, we weren’t sure if the Fire Brigade could help but they did. After virtually dismantling Debbie’s car they got him out and took him to the vets. Happily he is unharmed
, we think he must have been there the whole way from Nutley!
The firemen were quickly able to reach the tiny black house panther that they estimated to be about 9 weeks old. 
And then the wily kitten did something none of them expected.
He bolted out of the vehicle, away from his rescuers and ran into a row of nearby bushes!
But the newly dedicated crew were not about to let him get away that easily. Just because he was currently living on the streets, doesn’t mean they wanted him to remain that way. So they pulled out the big “guns” to find him. It just happened to be in the form of their thermal imaging camera.
They easily saw where he was hiding in the brush, but it took HOURS to get their hands on him again. And there was one major reason that is worked. You can thank the quick thinking of firefighter Andrew Buddle‘s brilliant idea to play kitten noises from a YouTube video! Meowing in response to the sounds, they were eventually able to grab the slippery sweet cat. 
Once he was in their safe arms, they all rushed him to the Arun Veterinarian Group for a checkup.
The fabulous hero’s from Billingshurst Fire Station arrived at our Storrington hospital with their new friend to ensure all was well and he had come to no harm.
We are pleased to say that this little kitten is absolutely fine, tucking into food but appears extremely nervous and flighty. We estimate him to be approximately 9 weeks old and male. He has no microchip and obviously we have no idea where he has come from. It is obviously very possible his Mum was a feral cat.
Photo: @ArunVetGroup
While the kitten seems to be a stray, he’s got a home lined up if no one claims him.
Commenters on the original posts were happy to share that he has good things in his future.
If no one comes forward we really hope that Debbie can be the one to rehome him. She has a loving and safe home for him. And after everything we went through that day to save him, it would be a wonderful end to the story for them to be united. We would also love it if he could be named “Andy” after the firefighter who’s clever idea lead to us finding this little kitten in dense hedge.
Photos property of @LincolnStud
Thank you so much to everyone involved in helping this little black kitten escape from the vehicle. If you have any information regarding him, please reach out to the vet hospital.
If you live in Uckfield and are missing a kitten (although unlikely for a kitten of this age to be out) please call our Storrington hospital on +01903 746028.Various questions will be asked along with the exact area the kitten went missing.We would like to reassure you that a new home is not being sought.
REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP; MICORCHIP YOUR PETS, FOSTERING SAVES LIVES & SPAY AND NEUTER!
