A kitten made an incredible journey from Merseyside to Bristol hiding in the engine of a Parcelforce van.
The kitten was discovered hiding in the engine after a company driver returned back to Bristol after picking up the van in Haydock, St Helens. The cat was brought into the Zetland Veterinary Hospital on Thursday, July 28 after making the 170 mile journey.
Miacarlla Harrison, who works at Parcelforce in Bristol, said the kitten was discovered during the vehicle checks before being encouraged out and brought into the office. Ms Harrison said: "Once I found a vet willing to look after him I got one of my drivers to take him down to get him checked over.
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"He was very scared initially as he obviously didn't know where he was and he had probably just fallen asleep in there and then all of a sudden there are hands and faces that he doesn't recognise trying to get hold of him. Once he was in the office though he had a little run around doing backflips off the wall so I nicknamed him 'Taz' after the Tasmanian devil."
The male kitten, believed to be a ragdoll breed with cream and brown markings, was taken to the veterinary hospital on Thursday evening to be assessed. Because the cat is too young to be chipped it could make the possibility of a reunion with an owner more difficult.
Vikki Flynn, a student veterinary nurse at the practice, told BristolLive : "He's quite underweight and he was a bit dehydrated when he came in last night as well. We found ear mites and they were really dirty and he is showing signs of cat flu. He's not in tip top condition but considering he's been under a van bonnet he's been quite lucky."
Ms Flynn added his condition suggested he might be a feral cat but fortunately he tested negative for the feline virus. The vet's mission now is to try and locate the owner if he has one, but if no one goes forward the practice will look into adoption with the local rescue centre.
The student nurse said the team had never experienced anything like this case before with an animal travelling such a long distance. She added: "We do reunite cats quite often with their owners who have been missing for months and years, which is why it's so important to microchip your cat. That's how we're able to reunite them. It's not a legal requirement but we do reunite strays on a weekly to monthly basis."
The nurses are still trying to think of a name for him while they wait to see if anyone comes forward to claim him.
You can contact Zetland Veterinary Hospital on 0117 944 5111 if you think the kitten might be yours, although the practice will require proof that he is yours.
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