Most of us will do anything we can to protect our pets. But, unfortunately, accidents happen.
Cat owner Amanda Meredith from Mudjimba in Queensland, Australia is counting her lucky stars after her furbaby Oscar recently survived an unfortunate accident.
The 2-year-old Burmese cat was likely looking for a cozy place to take a snooze when and decided that a front loading washing machine would make the perfect abode.
Yup, you can probably imagine what happened next. Oscar ended up taking a swim in a 12-minute hot cycle of the washing machine.
To make matters worse, that wash also included detergent.
Amanda’s husband, Angelo, didn’t realize the cat was inside when he decided to do a load of bed sheets. Meredith thought the strange meowing sound was coming from the cupboard.
She discovered Oscar soon after when she went to the washroom to hang another load of clothes. What happened next was like something you’d see in a cartoon.
“The poor little cat had his hands on the glass as he was doing the rotations and he was looking at me,” Amanda told ABC Sunset Coast. “It was tragic.”
Meredith had to wait two whole minutes before she could even open the washing machine to get him out since the water had to drain before the machine would turn off and allow the door to be opened.
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When Oscar came out of the hot water cycle poor cat was banged up and bruised from being knocked across the fins in the washing machine.
But Oscar was alive.
He was also “very soft.’ This, however, didn’t mean that Oscar was immediately out of the clear after the incident occurred.
https://www.facebook.com/BeachsideVets/photos/a.232742500508449/232742507175115/?type=1&theater
When Meredith called the vet and Dan Capps of Beachside Veterinary told her that the first six hours would be “touch and go.”
Oscar was given anti-inflammatory medicine and stayed overnight at the vet for observation.
He hung out at the vet’s for about 24 hours become coming home.
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But poor Oscar’s ordeal didn’t end there.
He was exhausted and still kind of traumatized from what had occurred.
Meredith said he slept for a lot for the next seven days.
“There was no damage,” Meredith said.
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Overall, Oscar was OK though she estimated that he probably used up at least three of his nine lives.
While it may seem slightly humorous now, it was anything but at the time.
“Waiting the two minutes [for the washing machine’s door to release] was traumatic to say the least,” she said.
Dr. Capps says he’s actually seen this happen before and it isn’t uncommon.
“He’s a very lucky but strong little fellow. This is not the first time this has happened,” he said.
“During the cooler weather, it is the perfect place for feline friends to try and hide for a warm nap.”
He urged people to check their machines before doing laundry.
But his wild ride in the washing machine hasn’t stopped Oscar from exploring and hanging out near the washing machine.
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Meredith is still not sure if this is healthy or not.
“He sits there and watches it tumble-turn all the time,” Meredith said. “Maybe he has PTSD or something — he has to sit at the door watching the wash cycle.”
Oscar’s story ended up going viral and other cat owners confirmed similar stories about their own cats.
“I’m not surprised it was a Burmese. I’ve found ours in the dryer a few times. It’s now on top of the washing machine and too high to get into,” wrote one Facebook user.
So, you’re definitely going to want to start checking out that washing machine before your press start.
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