Look for kittens under the hood of your car, warns local humanitarian society

TAMPA, Florida – As the weather begins to cool, shelters say there is an increase in the number of seriously injured kittens taking shelter in vehicle engines.

“Cats like to get in the engines of cars because it’s warmer for them and it’s like a safe haven, moms will have their babies and they’ll take them in cars and they’ll get in engines,” a said Darlene Esposito of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

“Cats are in car engines all the time, I can say we make about three to four calls a week for kittens in car engines.”

She says there are things drivers can do to make sure a cat or kitten isn’t under the hood of the car when you pull away.

First, knock on the hood before getting into the car. It can frighten them and scare them away.

Then, when you get into your vehicle, honk your horn. It’s another way to get them out before you switch on the ignition and leave.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay says this mostly happens in stray cats. At the moment, the shelter is overwhelmed with stray cats, they are forced to turn back some of them.
If you want to learn more about adopting a cat or dog, visit their website.