“She was just so scared.”
When Sara Forrest noticed a note on her windshield warning her about a cat spotted under her car, she was initially skeptical. She checked around the vehicle and even looked under the hood, but saw no signs of a cat.
She drove off, leaving her car parked for a few hours, yet didn’t notice anything unusual. However, as soon as she started the engine again, she heard faint meowing.
“Oh my gosh, there really is a cat in my car,” she realized.
Forrest suspected the cat had been searching for a warm spot, as the previous night’s temperatures had dropped to 40°F. She pulled into a nearby neighborhood, unsure how to free the kitten trapped in her rental car, especially without the proper tools.
Luckily, a kind neighbor saw her struggling and came over to help. Soon, more people gathered, offering both tools and cat treats. With the help of one of the strangers, Forrest was able to carefully remove part of the car and rescue the kitten through a small opening. It was a tiny kitten, only about two months old.
“She was so scared,” Forrest recalled. “She would just curl up, keeping her head down.”
Forrest rushed the kitten home, gave her a bath to remove fleas, and created a cozy spot in her daughter’s room. That first night, the kitten went missing for a while, causing panic in the house. They found her later, peacefully tucked in a dresser drawer, finally relaxed and safe.
At first, Forrest wasn’t sure about keeping the kitten, as she already had three cats. But soon, it became clear that the kitten had chosen them.
“I realized she knew we’d take care of her,” Forrest said. “She picked us.”
They named her Mitsubishi Mirage, after the car she was rescued from and her fleeting yet serendipitous arrival. Now, Mitsubishi Mirage is happily settled with Forrest’s other cats—Salem, Star, and Teeny—grateful that she no longer needs to search for warmth or a place to rest.
This little kitten found her forever home, thanks to the kindness of strangers and the love of Forrest’s family.