Usually, when your car’s engine starts making funny sounds, you head directly to the mechanic. However, one UK driver knew they needed a different type of help for this sound and headed straight to the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service headquarters, according to the group’s Facebook post about the incident.
According to them, it all started when a woman heard a cat crying in her car. She knew she needed help ASAP, so she drove to the fire service’s headquarters, where an employee helped diagnose the problem. Sure enough, the source of the sound turned out to be a tiny kitten who was more than happy to be rescued.
Now, Jessie (named after one of the tools used by the firefighters) is with a foster family where she is recovering nicely, according to the BBC, who picked up the story.
As for the driver, well, she popped into the Facebook page to get an update and to check out the photos the fire service shared of her cute stowaway.
Fire Service Rescues Cat from Wheel Arch
According to the post, the incident went down the week of July 13, 2026.
The Cute Kitten Earned a Significant Moniker
Once the kitty was out, the team named her Jessie (a nod to JESIP, the emergency service system used by the fire service) before taking her for a checkup. The BBC reports that she is doing well and was later taken to the Cats Protection Honiton and Axe Valley branch, where she was matched with a foster family.
“Jessie was very fortunate as she could have remained stuck and starved or fallen from the car at speed,” Jessie’s foster mom, Heidi Cruickshank, explained of the 7-week-old kitten, who she believes was originally a stray due to the condition she was found in.
Jessie Will Have a Cushy Life Ahead of Her
While the BBC noted that the kitten was originally dehydrated and thin-looking when she was rescued, Cruickshank mused that she had snuck her way into more than just a stranger’s car when she ended up with the fire service. “She has had a lucky escape from the tough life of a homeless cat,” Cruickshank said.
As for the woman who originally heard Jessie’s cries, she’s happy with how things worked out as well. She commented on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Facebook post, sharing her joy.
“This was me,” she wrote. “The best update I’ve ever had! I’m soooo happy she’s doing well, been thinking about her ever since. Thank you to everyone who helped the little kitty and me that day, you were all amazing.”
What a happy ending for everyone!