College worker drives 24km with cat in car engine

A college worker had a shock when she discovered she had driven the 15 miles (24km) home from work with a cat trapped underneath her car bonnet.

The black and white feline, whom carers have named Matilda, is thought to have crawled into the space while the car was parked at Barnsley College's Honeywell sports campus.

She was found near the driver's home in Wakefield when the woman noticed her dog acting strangely around the vehicle.

Matilda is now in the care of Cats Protection, whose staff have treated her for burns to her paws and are now trying to trace her owner.

The five-year-old "friendly" cat is staying at the charity's Leeds centre in Gildersome, where the woman who found her took her after she had been discovered "cowering" in the engine compartment.

Deputy centre manager Elizabeth Day said: "If she hadn't had the burnt pads, she could have really come from somewhere close by, but we think because her pads were burnt as much as they were, we do think that she travelled on that journey. So she's been really, really lucky!"

Matilda was also treated for conditions including eye and dental problems.

Day added: "We would love to get Matilda home but as she isn't microchipped, and she has travelled so far, it is proving difficult to locate an owner.

"Anyone who thinks this may be their cat, or recognises her from around the college area, should get in touch and we can hopefully solve the mystery.

"If it turns out she is a stray, we will continue to care for her while she recovers before finding her a loving new home."

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