Cat rescued after being trapped in car engine for eight hours
Nala sustained serious injury to her right forelimb and bone was exposed.
The RSPCA has rescued a severely injured cat after she became trapped in a car engine in Walsall.
In a complicated rescue, taking the RSPCA and the fire service eight hours, Nala’s rescuers were able to extract her from the engine and remove her severely damaged forelimb.
Nala was discovered on a Sunday morning, after a driver noticed every warning light illuminate on her car’s dashboard. When smoke began emitting from the engine, the driver pulled over, opened the hood and called the AA.
Upon arrival, the AA discovered the distressed tortoiseshell cat under the engine, with her right forelimb trapped.
The driver cut her car’s timing belt in an attempt to release the cat; however, she was more trapped than first realised. She therefore called West Midlands Fire Service for assistance, which in turn contacted the RSPCA.
Cara Gibbon, an attending RSPCA animal rescue officer, said: “When we attended we could see the true damage of what had happened and feared the only way we could help Nala would be to ask a vet to attend and put her to sleep in situ.
“She was in and out of consciousness due to the severity of the pain but thankfully the lovely team at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital dropped everything to rush to Nala's rescue.”
Veterinary nurse James Bradbury soon attended the scene with all the equipment necessary to retrieve Nala.
James began by removing the wheel arch, revealing exactly where Nala was trapped. This meant that Cara and her colleague, Rachel, were able to sedate Nala and rescue her without causing further panic or injury.
The cat’s right forelimb and chest had become trapped within the car’s pulley system. James carefully removed the pulley system, while Cara held Nala so she would not fall or sustain further injury.
Cara said: “Nala had sustained serious injury to her right forelimb and bone was exposed. Thankfully, the heat from the vehicle may have saved her life by cauterising the injury ensuring she did not bleed to death.
“She was given fluids, pain relief and rushed immediately to RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital where she is now receiving the best care. She is not out of the woods yet, as the injury on her chest is quite deep but she is a fighter and we are willing her to pull through!”
Image © RSPCA
Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
