BC SPCA asks drivers to check for cats before starting vehicles this winter

With frigid weather outside, the BC SPCA is out with a timely warning to watch out for cats who may seek warm places for shelter.

One of the most common and dangerous places for a cat will go and hide when it’s cold outside is a warm car engine.

Before you hop in your car, the SPCA recommends tapping or lightly thumping on the hood, and checking underneath for any cats that may be hiding there.

The association adds that honking your horn and waiting a few moments to see if there is any movement is a good idea before driving off as well.

For those who let their animals outdoors throughout the winter, the SPCA suggests leaving some kind of elevated, insulated, and regularly cleaned shelter nearby to ensure pets have that option rather than a parked car.

Alongside the warning, the SPCA shared the story of a cat named Fievel who was found trapped under the hood of a car after a long drive.

The drivers were shocked to find her, and luckily she came out of the ordeal unscathed.

She was later brought to the BC SPCA’s West Vancouver site, where she was eventually adopted.

The association says she now enjoys “the warmth and safety of her new indoor home.”