Kitten Survives Hundreds-Mile Journey Wedged Beneath Car, Finds New Home

A young kitten has made a remarkable recovery after spending hundreds of miles trapped beneath a vehicle that traveled from New Jersey to Georgia. The approximately 10-week-old cat, now called Jersey, was discovered on August 10 when University of Georgia student Jadyn Sawyer returned to campus and noticed one of the animal’s legs protruding from underneath her car.

Sawyer immediately alerted UGA Police, who contacted Cat Zip Alliance – Campus Cats for assistance. Kelly Bettinger, the nonprofit’s founder, and volunteer Lisa Donovan responded to the scene and found Jersey wedged into a cramped space beneath the vehicle. Initial concerns about the kitten’s survival were quickly eased when Bettinger heard the animal cry and felt it move upon contact.

When campus police proved unable to extract the trapped kitten, the vehicle was transported to a nearby Tires Plus facility. Mechanics lifted the car and removed the front driver’s side tire, finally allowing rescuers to free Jersey from his precarious position. The kitten, though overheated and breathing heavily, showed no visible injuries and recovered quickly once placed in air conditioning.

A veterinary examination the following day revealed Jersey was in good health aside from a minor upper respiratory infection and coccidia, a common intestinal parasite found in outdoor kittens. The initially fearful animal gradually warmed to his rescuers and has since become affectionate and playful, according to Bettinger.

Rita Reimers, a certified cat behaviorist based in North Carolina, explained that kittens often crawl into vehicles seeking shelter or protection. She advised drivers to check under their cars and bang on hoods before starting engines, particularly in areas with outdoor cat populations.

Jersey is currently in foster care and will undergo neutering, microchipping, and rabies vaccination on September 1. Sawyer’s sister and her fiancé in New Jersey plan to adopt the kitten, completing its unexpected journey home through legitimate means.