An 11-year-old Melbourne cat named Minam may have used up one of its nine lives after surviving four terrifying hours trapped inside a tumble dryer on high heat. The ordeal left the feline with serious injuries, including a swollen and bruised tongue, mouth injuries, and eye damage, but remarkably, Minam has made a full recovery.
The Nightmare Begins
Owner Syma told reporters that the incident began when she loaded a doona into the dryer and left the door open for about five minutes. During that brief window, Minam crawled inside unnoticed. Syma then closed the door and started the dryer before leaving for work and dropping her child at kindergarten.
“I left for work and to drop my kid off at kinder and I came back about four hours later and didn’t see him in his little house,” Syma said. The dryer was still warm when she returned, though she believes it may not have been running for the entire four-hour period.
Discovery and Emergency Care
It was only when Syma called out the cat’s name that she heard a faint meow coming from the dryer. “I opened the door and he was just standing there on the doona. He looked normal at first, but then when I picked him up, he had some drool on the side of his mouth and he started panting,” she said.
She immediately rushed Minam to Lort Smith Animal Hospital, where he was treated in the intensive care unit for two days. The cat underwent multiple scans to check for liver, kidney, and heart damage and spent time in an oxygen tank to aid his recovery.
A Full Recovery
Despite the harrowing experience, Minam has made a complete recovery and is back to his normal self. “He’s completely fine. You’d never think that he was in the dryer at all. He’s completely demanding cuddles and pats and food all the time,” Syma said.
Warning to Pet Owners
The incident serves as a stark warning to pet owners, as cats are known to seek out warm places like wheel arches of cars and tight spots like dryers. Lort Smith Animal Hospital has urged pet owners to check where their cats are before pressing start on the washing machine or dryer and to make a habit of keeping the doors closed after every use.
