Horror as Woman Returns to 100F Car After Hours, Realizes Who Was Inside
A heartbreaking scare involving a cat sneaking into a car and being left in there for hours when it was 100 degrees outside is serving as a reminder for pet parents to take extra precautions in extreme heat.
Kadyn Shelby said they received a worried call from their mother who lives about an hour away, about one of the cats, Ditto. This cat follows Shelby's mom everywhere. However, that habit led the feline into the car without Shelby's mother realizing.
"She had went to get her laptop from her truck earlier in the day, and didn't realize Ditto had jumped in," Shelby told Newsweek via Reddit. "...My mom said Ditto had been in there for seven or eight hours, and when she went to the truck to grab something else, she found Ditto panting heavily and limp on the floor next to the pedals with vomit and feces around her."
Temperatures hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit that entire week in Arkansas, Shelby said. Car interiors can reach dangerously hot temperatures as they can trap superheated air, endangering people and pets if left inside for too long.
Panic overcame Shelby's mother about what to do, especially as all the local veterinarian clinics were closed by 7 p.m. Shelby then posted a video of Ditto's condition last week to the subreddit channel r/CATHELP, asking for advice on how to help cool down the cat until the feline could see a vet.
The family got in contact with a local vet they have become well-acquainted with who suggested they give Ditto small amounts of water manually every other minute. To increase her energy levels, give her a bit of honey.
"I told my mom to put cool, not cold, water on Ditto's paws, and put a cool rag underneath her, too," Shelby said.
Shelby, their brother and mother stayed with Ditto throughout the night, manually giving her water through a pipette. Eventually, she cooled down, but she became a bit too cold, which is when Shelby sought advice from Reddit.
The family kept doing what they were doing, with the doctor offering to see her as soon as she could in the morning if Ditto made it through the night.
"Somehow, Ditto started to slowly inch herself more and more upwards and even drank on her own!" Shelby said. "I made update posts since, showing her slow improvements over the next 24 hours. We were genuinely so hopeful when she started drinking on her own, but we still were clenched in case the worst happened."
But the worst was over. She turned a corner and began walking throughout the night. She jumped from the bathroom counter and used the litter box. Ditto even ate again.
Ditto received IV fluids and antibiotics first thing in the morning when the vet clinic opened. The doctor recommended keeping her hydrated and inside.
Thankfully, every day since the accident, Ditto has gotten stronger. She now plays, purrs, rolls over and suckles on blankets, Shelby said. The only thing she hates is that she is still not allowed outside. Shelby and their mother are thinking of giving her a "catio," which will help regulate Ditto's time outside, especially as the state's weather fluctuates.
Screenshot from a Reddit video of a cat's condition after being accidentally left in a car for about seven to eight hours in 100 degree weather.
Screenshot from a Reddit video of a cat's condition after being accidentally left in a car for about seven to eight hours in 100 degree weather.
crunchiestmilk/Reddit
Reddit Users React
Shelby said Reddit users first flooded their posts with negative feedback, claiming they were animal abusers. But they discovered many pet parents have gone through similar situations.
"...Overall, it's been a generously kind and heartwarming moment in the community," Shelby said. "Lots have been hoping for Ditto to make a quick recovery, and she is. I've been showing my mom all the love and support that she's been getting, and my grandma calls Ditto the superstar of the family now."
One Reddit user commented: "Sweetheart, I'd like to give you a hug and remind you to breathe. You're doing the absolute best you can. No one could do more. Just get that baby to 7 a.m. if you can."
Another user added: "I'm so sorry this happened. Years ago, I made a mistake that ended up with one of my babies not making it and it haunts me to this day. I pray that things will go better for y'all. But even if they don't, please let your mother know that accidents happen."
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