Driving instructors always teach their students to check tire pressure and tread before starting the car. This isn't just a mnemonic to pass the driving test—it's a crucial safety step to ensure a safe journey.
Recently, a car owner discovered something unexpected during this routine check. Just before starting her car, she noticed a leaf stuck inside the wheel rim. When she moved closer to remove it, she realized it wasn't a leaf at all—it was a sleeping stray orange cat!
According to reports from Chinese media, a woman in Jiangsu Province had parked her car by the roadside. As she prepared to drive off, she spotted what looked like an orange leaf inside the tire's aluminum rim. Approaching to remove it, she was startled to see the "leaf" breathing—it was actually a stray cat sound asleep.
The cat was deeply asleep and completely unaware of anyone nearby. Had the driver not noticed and started the car, the cat trapped in the rim's crevice could have been seriously harmed or worse.
Fortunately, the kind-hearted driver gently stroked the cat, who turned out to be very tame. She carefully coaxed the cat away from the dangerous spot beneath the car. The woman then took the stray home temporarily, hoping to find a loving family willing to adopt the little orange feline.
The video of this heartwarming rescue has attracted over ten thousand views online, with many netizens expressing relief and concern:
"There's a reason why you must check all around your car before driving."
"So dangerous! What if no one saw it and just drove off? Luckily, the sharp-eyed owner noticed."
"Wheel rims aren't usually a place cats like to rest—it must have been really tired to sleep there."
"If the owner hadn't seen it and driven away, the cat would have been in serious danger!"
This incident serves as a touching reminder of the importance of thorough pre-drive inspections—not only for our safety but sometimes to protect the unexpected little lives around us.
