Drivers across the UK are being urged to perform a quick check under their car and tap the bonnet before driving off. The advice comes as mornings turn colder and darker, increasing the risk of cats sheltering in or under parked vehicles.
Why the risk rises in autumn
Autumn mornings bring a chill in the air, misted windscreens, and later sunrises. In London, the sun will not rise until just after 7am on October 1, and by October 24, the day before the clocks go back, it will not be up until around 7.40am. This means many drivers heading to work or on the school run will be setting out in low light from cars parked outside overnight.
For a cat looking for somewhere dry and sheltered, the space underneath a car, inside a wheel arch, or tucked into the engine bay can be very appealing. Natalie Surtees, COO and co-founder of Tedaisy Insurance Group, the company behind Perfect Pet, said: "As the nights get colder, cats naturally look for somewhere warm and out of the weather. A parked car ticks every box. It keeps off the wind and rain, and there are lots of snug little gaps a cat can squeeze into."
Do EV drivers need to check too?
The risk is familiar with petrol and diesel cars, where the engine stays warm long after parking. However, with more than two million zero-emission cars now licensed in the UK, according to Department for Transport figures for the second quarter of 2026, Surtees said many EV drivers wrongly assume the problem does not apply to them.
She added: "It's easy to think that because there's no hot engine, cats won't bother with an electric car. But a car doesn't need to be warm to be appealing. Shelter is often what a cat is really after." Electric cars are also much quieter when pulling away, giving a dozing cat far less warning than it would get from a petrol or diesel engine starting.
Simple steps to reduce harm
Drivers can take a few simple steps to avoid putting cats at risk. Surtees said: "Give the bonnet a firm tap, have a look around the wheels and tyres, and then wait a few seconds before you drive off. That gives any cat plenty of time to hop out."
Cat owners can help too. Surtees said: "If your cat likes to be out at night, a cosy bed indoors or in a sheltered spot at home can make a parked car far less tempting when the temperature drops." She also recommended checking that a cat's microchip details are up to date, as a frightened cat can bolt and end up far from home.
Since June 2024, it has been a legal requirement in England for pet cats to be microchipped by 20 weeks old, and owners must keep their contact details on the microchip database up to date. If a cat is found without a microchip, the owner has 21 days to get one fitted or could face a fine of up to £500.
Surtees concluded: "None of this means worrying every time you get in the car. A tap on the bonnet and a quick look round the wheels is all it takes, and it soon becomes second nature, whatever you drive."
