Cats Going Up Under the Bonnet

Herrick

Hi all I have a bit of a funny one. We recently got a couple of cats and they have a nasty habit of going under the car and crawling into the engine space where its really warm.

It's getting very annoying having to remember having to check before every journey.

I've been told things like beep the horn when starting the car, but sometimes if I'm in rush I forget completely.

Anyone come up with a way of stopping them? Is there any sort of a spray or anything you can get?

-Corkie-

Pussy spray prehaps???:)

Shakti

It's more of a winter problem but chemical free cat repellent sprinkled over were you park is worth a try, but beeping the horn is probably the best vet bills can be expensive.

dr.fuzzenstein

We got a new cat and he got in under the bonnet.
Had to dismantle the airfilter box to get him out.
Now I make sure I see him before setting off. It's annoying, but there's no other way to be sure.
The other day he was sitting on the undertray, so I beeped the horn and when he wouldn't budge, started the engine. He was out of there in quite a hurry.
Cats just do that sort of thing, the only way would be to try and seal off the engine bay from underneath with chickenwire. Some people in Germany do that to stop Pine Martens getting in and chewing cables, brake lines, etc... It's a big problem there.
This is obviously impractical, so you just have to make lots of noise when getting into the car, open and slam the door shut, wiggling the gearstick a few times back and forth, beep the horn, etc...
It's a PITA, but once they realise that cars start and drive off every now and then, they usually stop.
I actually got my first cat out of a car, the guy had driven from Ennis to Lahinch and back to Ennis, to my house. I realised his car was miaowing, checked under the bonnet, there was a cat. I kept her. Still have that cat.:)
When I'm in the car I'm as mean as possible to my own cats and dogs, drive at them, beep at them, etc...
They have to realise that a car is not a friendly thing. Strangely enough it never affected my dogs when it comes to going for a drive, they still love to hop in and come along. They just know that once they're outside and the car is in motion, they'll never know what it will do and give it a wide berth.
This will save your pets from being run over.
They eventually stop doing it. But it's nerve-wracking in the beginning.
And don't forget, if they get caught in the fan belt, not only might they get mangled, they can cause a bit of damage too, so always check, even if it's annoying.

areyawell

This thread is making me paranoid ha, plenty of cats around where I live.

dgt

Chickenwire and some cresote

Owen_S

How about a dog to keep the cats away?

Galwayguy35

There was a cat under my brothers car and she had a close call with the fan belt, took the fur completly off her back but she escaped unhurt.

ValerieR

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

There was a cat under my brothers car and she had a close call with the fan belt, took the fur completly off her back but she escaped unhurt.

Luckier than a friend's kitten ... he didn't make it

I was rather worried when ours were young silly kittens, getting themselves into impossible situations. But now, they're just too big to sneak under the bonnet ...

You probably will find that they will stop after a while (when they get a better sense of danger) but in the meantime, you are better off either closing up the gap indeed or make sure they're out and about as recommended above.

mrpgri

This is how we were adopted by our cat. She got into my wifes engine when she was about 5-6months old. My wife came home from work and told me she could hear a baby crying in our garden. When I went to look I realised it was a cat and on lifting the bonnet we found our little jinx. Poor thig was scared half to death and stuck. Now 3 years on and shes still around and part of the family.

goz83

We have 3 cats. They don't climb into the engine bays, but are often under the cars which is fine by me. Once the engine starts, they run. The most annoying thing they do is walk on my car. I just had a new paint job and I swear if I catch them on the car, the fan belt will be a gift to them.

Last year my dads car would start. He only had the car about a year and it was dead, He called the AA and the mechanic cam out to check the problem. I guessed the alternator. The mechanic found the alt belt on the ground, underneath the car. Attached to it was a cats tail :eek:

I happen to have a cat without a tail and she does just fine. No...it wasn't my cat under his car. Hopefully the cat losing the tail was alright and still has 8 lives. They bloody well need them...so careless cats are.

wonski

During the summer last year( i wish to say this year), i left my windows opened during the day. It was when i drove off the driveway when i noticed this fat red cat on back seat. He didn't want to leave, i had to ask him... Never had one in engine bay(luckily), but they used to go under the car, so i always drove off slowly to make sure they are out of there.

exador

pussy riot !

meoklmrk91

They are going up there because its a source of heat, I have noticed this is more of a problem for people who's cats are outdoor cats as they are just looking from somewhere cozy to snooze. Either way make sure there is somewhere fo them to go at all times, for instance leave a window open in the shed for them to climb in and put some blankets on a elevated surface. Do the same with a dog kennell outside, you will have to put it up someplace though because cats won't sleep at ground level most of the time, they just feel safer up away from danger. Basically you want to give them an alternative that is much easier to get to and much more comfy than the car.