A New Jersey kitten was rescued from a trash compactor in the nick of time, but it looks like it may have one or two more of its nine lifespans cut short.
Mark Mota, a Burlington County Regional Recycling Program employee, was going about his day on July 8 when he went to check the hydraulics on his truck.
The hydraulic unit was operating normally, but surprisingly, there was a kitten inside the compressor.
The little stowaway looked scared and was covered in oil.
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“I happened to see her little head, and I ran to stop the compressor, got in the truck and pulled her out,” Mota told Fox News Digital via Facebook Messenger.
Mota said he didn’t know why his truck was inspected so thoroughly that day.
Mark Motta, seen here, discovered this cat after feeling a mysterious urge to inspect his truck more thoroughly. (Mark Motta)
“It’s routine to make sure everything is working properly,” he said, “but typically we don’t walk through the truck and make sure everything is working properly.”
“To be honest, I don’t know why I did it differently then,” he added.
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Mota pulled the kitten out of the truck and took it to his plant, where he contacted the safety manager to find out what to do next.
He said he took the kitten to the vet after “giving it several baths with Dawn soap” and it is now being cared for by the same caregiver until it is ready to be adopted.
Mota told Fox News Digital that after he was found “squishy,” he was covered in grease and had to take “multiple baths with Dunn soap.” (Mark Motta)
This lucky kitten with sparse tri-colored fur has been named “Squishy” and was recently reunited with Mota.
Mota said it was a mystery how the squishy got into the compressor.
He said he had never found an animal in a compressor before.
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Squishy is currently being cared for by Rise Again Animal Rescue in Hammonton, New Jersey.
The rescue team shared photos of Mota’s reunion on their social media pages and provided a brief update on Squishy’s condition.
Mota and Squishy were reunited at Rise Again Animal Rescue in New Jersey. (Courtesy of Mark Motta)
“Squishy is doing well after her adventure,” the rescue team said.
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On social media, people were happy to hear the cat was okay and expressed relief that Mota was able to find the cat before it was too late.
Mota can’t adopt Squishy, but he hopes she can find a good home.
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“She loves to cuddle, she’s a sweet girl,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Rise Again Animal Rescue for more information.
