Cat under car?!

Today my cat went missing and my dad told me he saw her under the car, so I went to go look and I saw a cat, I thought it was my cat because I was panicking. I started meowing to get he/r out and I went inside to get some food for he/r then I saw a cat running in the backyard, it was my cat so I put her inside and closed the doors, then i wondered if the stray cat wasn't my cat since the door to the back yard was closed so I went back to the car and looking. And there s/he was eating the food, I went to go look closer but then s/he climbed back in? I don't know how to get the stray out, please please please help.

Is she under the car or has she climbed inside the underside of the car? If she is just under the car, it should be fairly easy to lure her out with food. But you may have to go away for a bit before she will come eat the food. Most feral cats do not like humans to get close to them.

Are you looking to trap the cat and get it inside (which would be a good idea, if only to have the cat spayed/neutered before being released outside again)? If so there are rescue groups that have humane traps that you might be able to borrow for trapping the cat later.

You can also make a trap with a large dog cage and some string to pull the door shut.

@Smile123   Usually, if cats are in the area...then you can bang on the hood of the car, or around the car to scare the cat out from under the car. It also works for squirrels, birds or any small animals that take shelter under a car. Just do not start the engine or move the car until you see them run away.

In fact banging on the hood of your car is always a good idea, before moving it.

Are you trying to trap this stray cat ? Or are you just trying to get it out from the engine or underneath the car?

A mirror, flashlight, and using the car mats, or flat cardboard to kneel on, or lay on, would help to see under the car.

Of course, making sure that you can safely do this, in the area that it is parked in.

Were you able to see the cat at all?

Yes I saw it but when j went closer it ran back in the car underneath. I've tried banging on the car but s/he won't come out. In think of taking it to the shelter but they might not accept the stray since there's a lot of kittens right now. I'm pretty sure s/he's a kitten since I saw the legs and they are small and thin.

Aww, poor thing. I misunderstood and thought s/he was a roaming neighbour's cat.

If s/he's a kitten, then definitely take @Raina21 advice and try to lure her out with food and water.

Canned cat food would be the best for that, but anything that you gave her before and it worked, is good.

As 'Raina21' mentioned, phone up some 'cat rescue groups' in your area, and they will give you other options to try, in borrowing a humane trap, to trap and neuter/spay.

I do like the dog crate/cage idea but you'd have to set it up and wait for the kitten to enter, by enticing her with food.

When you do try to trap her or extract her, then remember to wear work gloves and long sleeves, since frightened kittens can scratch and bite quite quickly to protect themselves.

You can also try to lure her out with a long rope, or thick string, as in playing with her, but that would depend on how afraid she is of humans.

If she is lost, then posting flyers in your neighbourhood, or even posting info about her on your shelter's website might help the owners find her.

Please do NOT start the car, until you can get her out. Check everywhere with a flashlight, in the engine compartment, and around the wheel wells, and on top of muffler system or spaces between gas tank and car body. Being so small she could be hiding anywhere.

I'm really hoping that by you feeding her, she will quickly want to come out, and trust you more and more.

Well it's okay now, thank you @Raina21 and @cat nap for helping. I think the cat is gone now, but many thanks anyway.

S/he did eat a whole plate of food so at least there will be food in her/his tummy for a while.

Ah, having her eat sounds good.

If you do think she is lost, then it's still a good idea to call those 'cat rescue groups', because she may come around again.

And if your neighbours are friendly, then just mentioning seeing the kitten would help. They may know who s/he belongs to.

(It took me 5 weeks to lure one of my previous cats into the house, and he was a small black kitten who I figured that someone just left outside.

The only way was with food, and eventually slowly being around him, then playing with string. He got used to me, and the weather got cold, so it was easier to coax him inside.)

Good luck to you. Maybe your cat was looking for company. Things sometimes work out that way.

I'm glad you got your kitty back inside!  Please do continue to try to catch this little stray.  I would also recommend that you check carefully under the car before starting it even if you think she's gone.  You never know!

It turns out the kitty is still under there since I left more food and water overnight and this morning it was all gone, I've put some more under. I don't know how to get her/him out, s/he has managed to crawl into the underside of the car and I can't see him/her so i am just assuming s/he is still there. If I call a rescue do I need to pay an impound fee, like at an shelter. I'm so worried because it is very hot during the afternoon.

I just went to check and the kitty is still there. The poor cat is starving the food I just ledpft is gone now

This is the "trap" the dog crate is not big but will it do?

I think that cage is big enough, but you may need a humane drop trap to catch her. Could you rig the door of that cage to pull closed with a string?

You shouldn't need to pay a fee since she's a stray.

Is your kitten spayed? I'm wondering if that's why she ran out in the first place.

Yes my kitten is spayed, I tied a string around the handle so when I pull the string the door closes but doesn't lock.