Crawling up into the safe recesses of the engine compartment, the three-month old gray and white kitten found safe harbor from the night.  His empty belly called for food but he ignored the rumblings in his stomach and curled up for a few hours respite.

He heard the voices around the car in the early morning hours. He froze, knowing instinctively that silence was integral to his survival.  Suddenly and without notice, horrific and terrifying noises erupted all around him!  He curled up in the cramped space and tried to make himself as small as possible, unknowing of the dramatic turn his life was taking.

Wind! Noise! Rushing! Whooshing! Terrifying! 

The little kitten tried to imagine himself somewhere safe, somewhere quiet and peaceful, but that was not to be.  For hours on end the car moved toward its ultimate destination three hours away.   With all the power of a six thousand pound monster barreling along at 70 miles per hour, the kitten could only huddle in silent agony.  The temperatures in the engine compartment skyrocketed. The kitten’s temperature steadily climbed, reaching 105 degrees as he slowly began to dehydrate.
 

The miles passed…  Waco…  Lorena…  Temple…  Belton…  Georgetown…  Taylor…

As the car came to a stop, the kitten could not believe he was still in one piece and not only that, aside from being terrified and terribly overheated and dehydrated, he had the strength to loudly meow!  The startled driver called the Taylor Animal Control Officer who quickly responded to the call.  Food was placed next to the car and within minutes the kitten had stumbled down.  Ravenously eating and drinking, he was unaware of the net quickly coming down on him.  Safely securing him, ACO Waggoner contacted Shadow Cats for assistance, and quickly working out the logistics, the kitten was delivered to Central Texas Cat Hospital for immediate treatment.


The kitten, now named Traveler by the staff, made it clear he did not want any treatments by any person for any reason!  Terrified and combative, he was quickly evaluated, treated, and allowed to calm down in his cooled and airy condo.  He buried his head into the corner, not wanting to even think about the last 6 hours and his harrowing brush with death.



This morning, Traveler is at the front of the condo waiting to greet the staff!  His purrs and calls can be heard across the room.  What is this little guys’ story?  Is he a lost kitten from Waco ? Is he just another stray cat among the Many?   We’ll be working to find an owner if there is one and if not to find a home for this littlest of travelers.  In the meantime, you can rest assured that he will receive all the veterinary care, food, and loving support that Shadow Cats gives all the cats that cross our path.