TAILS OF PET RESCUES: Bailey hitches a ride to loving hearts

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - From the day they first laid eyes on him, Bailey the cat revved up his owners' hearts. This fearless feline was found in the engine compartment of a vehicle in Oudtshoorn late one night in November last year.

How he managed to get there no one knows, but he survived a ride of several kilometres underneath the hood of the vehicle to get to his forever home.

"We heard some very desperate meows and realised it was a kitten in distress," says Bailey's owner, Janet Belstead. "We went outside with torches to see if we could find out where the meowing came from and found Bailey in the engine compartment of our neighbour's bakkie. He must've crawled into the engine at our neighbour's workplace and then bummed a ride to his home."

After several hours of playing cat and mouse, a frightened Bailey was eventually caught when he came out and clambered onto a pile of wood.

Bailey is Janet's beautiful ginger 'nurse'.

"My mom stood on the stoep and managed to pick him up from a position where he couldn't see her approaching," recalls Janet.

Bailey was frightened and covered in oil and dirt, but eventually after 24 hours he started to calm down. A couple of days later the filthy kitten was calm enough for his new family to give him a good wipe-down.

"Initially we thought he was a grey tabby, but after his 'bath' we realised he is a beautiful ginger."

Bailey takes some time out with his 'sister' Emily Rose.

But Bailey wasn't the only one rescued that day.

In April this year, Janet and her mother were involved in a horrendous car accident that claimed her mother's life and left Janet severely injured.

"Bailey was left in my husband's care while I was in hospital. When I eventually got home, he grew very attached to me and constantly sat by my side while I was recuperating. I believe there was as reason why we rescued Bailey - at the time he needed us and now he is helping me heal. My little ginger nurse with plenty of purrs and cuddles."

Bailey in Janet's arms - his favourite spot.