Hong Kong kitten rescued from underneath bus believed to be a stray, animal welfare group says
- Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says several people are claiming to be kitten’s owners, but ‘are unable to provide any evidence’
- Driver calls police on Thursday after kitten dives under wheels of KMB bus, with rescuers called to scene to rescue feline
A kitten rescued from underneath a Hong Kong bus after affecting traffic for an more than hour is believed to be a stray, despite several people claiming to be the cat’s owners, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has said.
The non-profit animal welfare organisation said on Friday that a number of people had claimed to be the owners of the one-and-a-half-month-old kitten after the group took the cat to its centre in Tsing Yi after Thursday’s rescue effort.
“Despite several individuals claiming ownership at the scene, none could provide substantial evidence to support their claims,” a spokeswoman said. “We suspect that the cat is a stray.”
The spokeswoman said the kitten was found to be healthy and had no signs of injury after a check-up, but its fur was dirty and it was nervous in the wake of the incident.
Traffic on Mong Kok’s Nathan Road slowed down at around 6.30pm on Thursday after a driver for the KMB 296C bus route reported seeing the cat dash underneath his vehicle.
Bus firm KMB said the driver slowed down after he spotted the kitten on the roadside.
The feline hid near the bus's rear left wheel and the driver called police after unsuccessful attempts to persuade the kitten to come out.
Rescue personnel from the Fire Services Department and the society were able to rescue the cat at around 8pm by using a control pole.
The incident resulted in a traffic jam along Nathan Road as two Cheung Sha Wan-bound traffic lanes near Lai Chi Kok Road were temporarily closed.
The society said it was “not uncommon” to get reports of cats trapped inside vehicle engine compartments. It added there would be more kittens on the streets as it is the mating season for cats.
The group advised drivers to stop their cars and check under the bonnet if they heard meowing and added that owners could also check around the tyres before starting the engine.
The Road Traffic Ordinance says drivers are required to stop if they hit cats, dogs, horses or cattle, among other animals.
Any driver who fails to stop can face a maximum fine of HK$10,000 (US$1,279) and a year in prison.
A motorist who fails to report a case to police within 24 hours can be fined up to HK$25,000 and imprisoned for six months.
