A cat that hitched a ride under a car and travelled 15 miles on busy Essex roads must be counting what remains of his nine lives after an incredible stroke of luck reunited him with his anxious family. 

Four-year-old Olaf's traumatic and hairy journey ended when the car he was trapped under pulled up outside the Cats Protection Essex Cat Centre in Galleywood. 

The adventurous cat had been missing for four days before making a surprise appearance by leaping from underneath the car and scarpering across the car park as Abigail Harrison, Deputy Manager at the centre, arrived at work. 

Abigail said: “My colleague Bex Prentice arrived just after and spotted a cat having fallen from my car. She jumped out of her car and scooped up the cat while Maddie Newbury, another team member, grabbed a carrier to secure him before he could run into busy traffic. It all happened so quickly.   

“He must have climbed under the bonnet or wheel arch near my home and fallen asleep. I had driven all that way with this poor cat trapped under my car. I even stopped for petrol on the way, but he didn't budge. That probably saved him from far worse than a few oil stains." 

Miraculously, Olaf was grubby but uninjured. Even his panic soon faded as he was calmed by the charity’s care team. “He was understandably a bit skittish, but we got him into a carrier and checked him over,’ Abigail said. 

"We scanned him for a microchip and, to our relief, found one. When we looked up his details, we discovered that his name was Olaf and, amazingly, he lived 15 miles away in Braintree where I live – we're pretty much neighbours. 

"Olaf's story demonstrates the value of microchips and keeping your contact details up to date, even for indoor cats. We were able to quickly find details for his owners and reunite them. When they came to collect him, Olaf immediately perked up and was clearly relieved to be with his family again. 

“If he hadn't been chipped, it is doubtful that the family would have seen him again." 

Olaf's owner, Hazel Ohler, 55, from Braintree, explained that Olaf is an indoor-only cat who had slipped out and gone missing four days prior. 

Hazel said: "Essentially, he’s an indoor cat and has only rarely been in our garden under my supervision. Olaf is a scaredy-cat who can be afraid of his own shadow so this must have been so traumatic for him. 

"I was beside myself with worry. We did everything we could to find him, putting up posters, sharing appeals on social media, and even having a search party checking garages and gardens. I left his litter tray outside and put out food and a blanket from my bed in the hope he'd pick up the scent. 

"But as each day passed without sign of him, I started to lose hope. I couldn't believe it when Cats Protection called to say they had found him safe and well - especially when I learned how he had ended up miles from home, trapped under a car.” 

After a thorough vet check, Olaf was given a clean bill of health and has returned to his indoor life, perhaps a little more wary about venturing into the great unknown. 

Hazel added: "It’s incredible that he picked that particular car to take a nap in. I am so grateful to the team at Cats Protection for taking good care of their unexpected visitor and returning him to us so quickly. If he hadn't landed on the doorstep of Cats Protection, I dread to think what might have happened to him."