NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! An animal discovered trapped under a car after the vehicle traveled hundreds of miles from New Jersey to Georgia is recovering after an unusual rescue on a college campus. The approximately 10-week-old kitten, now named Jersey, was discovered on Aug. 10 after University of Georgia student Jadyn Sawyer arrived on campus from New Jersey and saw one of the cat’s paws hanging under her vehicle, Kelly Bettinger of the Cat Zip Alliance – Campus Cats told Fox News Digital. Bettinger, founder of the nonprofit, said Sawyer called UGA police, who then contacted the organization for help. TRAVELERS ARE WHETHER CRUISE LINES SHOULD ALLOW DOGS AND CATS ON BOARD OR NOT. Bettinger and fellow volunteer Lisa Donovan arrived to find Jersey wedged in a small space under the car. “I admit my heart stopped at first because I thought the kitten wasn’t alive, but luckily it cried and moved when I touched its leg,” Bettinger said. Jersey, pictured right, was rescued from under the vehicle of a college student, left, after his leg was seen dangling under the car. (Kelly Bettinger) After officers were unable to locate it, the car was taken to a nearby Tires Plus, where mechanics placed it on a lift and removed the front driver’s side tire before they were finally able to get Jersey out. The young cat was hot and panting, but quickly settled into the air conditioning and showed no visible injuries, according to Bettinger. and coccidia, an intestinal parasite commonly found in kittens born outdoors. Initially, the small animal seemed afraid of people, but quickly began to warm to its rescuers, Bettinger said. A veterinary exam the next day found Jersey, pictured above, to be healthy, with only a minor upper respiratory infection and coccidia. (Kelly Bettinger) “Now he’s talkative, playful, likes to be held and very sweet,” she said. Rita Reimers, a certified feline behaviorist based in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital that kittens may get into vehicles while seeking shelter or protection. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES “Cats can hide in the smallest of places,” Reimers said. “If your head fits, your body will fit too.” Drivers should be especially careful in areas where outdoor cats are common, Reimers said. Campus police responded before Tires Plus employees intervened to rescue the stowaway. (Kelly Bettinger) “I always tell people, especially in the winter, but all year round, if you park your car outside before you start it, hit the hood,” he said. Jersey is now in foster care and is expected to be neutered, microchipped and vaccinated against rabies on September 1st. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Sawyer’s sister and her fiancé in New Jersey plan to adopt Jersey, Bettinger said — so the kitten will eventually return to the state where his unexpected journey apparently began. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ “Now we have to figure out the logistics of getting him back to New Jersey the first week of September, in a much safer and more comfortable way than stowing away.” Bettinger said. Kelly McGreal is a production assistant on the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
