Junkyard worker opens car hood — and lost cat jumps out. Then came a tearful reunion
A junkyard worker opened a car hood — and a lost cat jumped right into his arms.
The worker’s surprise encounter with Lilly the cat led to an emotional reunion, according to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina.
“When Lilly reunited with her dad, the relief and happiness was so clear on both of their faces,” the rescue wrote Feb. 28 in a Facebook post. “She melted into his arms as his eyes filled with tears of joy.”
Lilly made it back home safely after her disappearance sparked a frantic search. The missing cat somehow got inside the car, spending more than 24 hours there before she was “almost crushed,” the animal organization wrote on Facebook and told McClatchy News in an email.
“Just moments before a junkyard employee sent a car to be crushed, he paused to remove the battery,” the rescue wrote. “As he popped open the hood, a bundle of fur jumped out and took a blind leap of faith into his arms.”
Lilly then looked at the worker “with soft eyes, thanking him with slow blinks and soft purrs.” The worker kept the cat throughout his shift before contacting Brother Wolf.
The animal organization said it got in touch with Lilly’s owner, who was “thrilled to hear that his closest companion was safe and sound.” Lilly was dehydrated but otherwise OK after the Feb. 21 ordeal. The rescue gave her medical care and a microchip, which can be used to find her if she gets lost again.
It turns out, Lilly has a daring side.
“Despite her small size, Lilly had an adventurous spirit like no other,” the rescue wrote. “In fact, her favorite activity is going for a ride with her dad, whether that be in his car or his motorcycle — she even has her own helmet.”
Brother Wolf said the car that Lilly was found in belonged to her owner. It believes the cat may have gotten inside because she’s so accustomed to car rides.
Social media users were fans of Lilly’s heartwarming rescue story, which got more than 1,000 reactions within 24 hours of being posted on Instagram and Facebook.
This story was originally published February 29, 2024 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Junkyard worker opens car hood — and lost cat jumps out. Then came a tearful reunion."
