A kitten has miraculously survived life-threatening injuries after hiding under the bonnet of a neighbour’s car then unwittingly going on a 40-mile journey.

One-year-old tabby cat Chi, from Brighton, used one of her nine lives after suffering severe burns from the ordeal. Thankfully, vets and vet nurses at PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, were able to provide emergency care and treat her injuries.  . 

Her devastated owner Kaylie Banks (30) said: “I returned home from work and Chi was nowhere to be seen. After turning the house upside down, I began knocking on my neighbours’ doors. No one had seen her and I was beginning to get worried. One of my neighbours then approached me to say he had found Chi trapped under the bonnet of his car!

“He was driving home when he heard noises coming from the engine. Luckily, he stopped the car and after close inspection he saw little Chi lodged inside. She was very stressed and he had to take the grill off the front of the car to get her out.”  

Chi was taken immediately to Brighton PDSA Pet Hospital where she was given pain relief straight away so the full extent of her wounds could be assessed. Chi had to stay overnight at the hospital and needed an operation to treat the burns to her body. 

PDSA Student Vet Nurse Sadie Reece, who helped care for Chi, explained: “Chi’s wounds needed to be cleaned and repaired under anaesthetic. There was a large amount of dead tissue that needed to be removed. The operation was a success and we were able to clean and stitch the healthy tissue back together.” 

After recovering from the procedure, Chi was able to go home, complete with a ‘buster’ collar to protect her injuries. Chi was also given antibiotics to treat infection and anti-inflammatory medication to help ensure she was pain-free while recovering. 

Owner Kaylie added: “The staff at Brighton PDSA were amazing and treated Chi exceptionally well. It’s thanks to the team that she is recovering well and I am grateful to all who helped during what was a very stressful time for me and my family.” 

Chi’s wounds are now healing well and she is expected to make a full recovery, thanks to the expert care she received. 

Every year, the dedicated teams at PDSA’s 48 Pet Hospitals work tirelessly to provide 2.7 million veterinary treatments, which includes emergency procedures like Chi needed, as well as routine preventive care such as neutering and vaccinations.

For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk