One scared cat causes quite a ruckus in Peachtree City

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It was quite the rescue in Peachtree City when a cat got stuck in the engine compartment of a car in a shopping center parking lot.

The family of Toma the cat was carrying him in a crate to a mobile vet parked in the lot. Toma escaped. He ran across the parking lot and up into the engine compartment of a parked car.

It would take the police, the fire department and a very determined veterinary technician 5 hours to free Toma.

Peachtree City Officer Chad Davis tried several times to free Toma.

“I could not see him, but I could hear him,” Davis said.

Toma is not a big cat, but he was a scared cat and the folks at West Mobile Vet said that’s all it takes. Their practice is on wheels and they deal with dozens of cats and dogs each day. They said the family was very upset.

“The family was very determined. They set up chairs and they were going to stay there all night if they had to,” Lewis said.

It was Sarah Lewis who would eventually free Toma. Peachtree City Police identified the car’s owner and contacted her. She works in Atlanta and car pools, so she was unavailable to open the car.

“They put cat food all around the car to coax it to come out, but he wouldn’t,” Davis said.

A relative opened the hood after four hours. And it would take another hour to before Sarah Lewis had him.

“He was really down in there and covered with wire. Also, his foot had gotten stuck. I had to pry him out of there,” Lewis said.

Toma is doing fine now. A good reminder for everyone who transports a cat to make sure their carrier is in good shape and the door secure.

Toma’s family provided the pictures of him, but didn’t want to be interviewed. They’ve had enough of Toma’s antics for one week.