Motorists across the UK are being urged to tap their car bonnet and check under their vehicle before driving off, as temperatures drop and mornings become darker. The advice comes from Natalie Surtees, COO and co-founder of Tedaisy Insurance Group, the company behind Perfect Pet.
Why cats seek shelter in cars
Autumn mornings are taking on a distinctly different feel, with a chill in the air, steaming windscreens, and daylight arriving later each day. Many drivers heading out to work or on the school run will be departing in dim conditions from vehicles left outside overnight.
For a cat seeking somewhere dry and sheltered, the space beneath a car, inside a wheel arch, or nestled within the engine bay can prove extremely appealing. Surtees 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."
"Most drivers never give it a second thought. But that's exactly why it's worth making a quick check part of your morning routine at this time of year."
Risks to cats and EV considerations
Starting the engine with a cat trapped inside can lead to severe injuries or death from fan belts, pulleys, and hot components. Cats often sleep on top of tyres, near wheel arches, or under the wheels, where they can be run over when the car pulls away.
It is a well-known hazard with petrol and diesel vehicles, where the engine retains heat long after the car has been parked up. With more than two million zero-emission vehicles now licensed in the UK, according to Department for Transport figures for the second quarter of 2026, Surtees said many EV drivers mistakenly believe the issue 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 than petrol or diesel when they pull away, so a cat dozing underneath gets far less warning than it would from an engine starting up."
Simple measures to reduce risk
There are straightforward measures drivers can take to avoid putting cats in danger. 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 also do their bit. 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."
It is also worth ensuring your cat's microchip details are current. A startled cat can bolt and end up a considerable distance from home, and an accurate microchip is frequently the reason lost cats are successfully reunited with their owners.
Since June 2024, it has been a legal requirement in England for pet cats to be microchipped by 20 weeks of age, with owners obliged to keep their contact details on the microchip database current. Should a cat be discovered without a microchip, the owner has 21 days to have one fitted, or they could face a penalty of up to £500.
Surtees said: "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."
