UoL vets help save cat trapped in washing machine

Disgruntled Lulu, a blue Persian cat, found herself locked in the washing machine for a 40 degree wash after she climbed inside behind owner Greg Morris’ back.

She survived the wash thanks to a quick-thinking neighbour, a vet and University of Liverpool vet students.

Greg, from the Wirral, said: “I had been really busy getting ready to go away and had done four or five loads of washing.

“The cat is normally always around my feet and I realised I hadn’t seen her.

“I checked all the cupboards in the flat to see if she had gone into one of them and even checked our neighbour’s flat to see if she had gone there.

“Then I realised she must be in the washing machine which had been on for 10 to 15 minutes.

“I switched it off but I wasn’t able to get the door open and I could hear her crying inside.”

Greg and his neighbour somehow managed to force open the washing machine door using a hammer and chisel before driving Lulu to the vets, where she was treated by Rhiannon Mansell.

He continued, “She was not in a good way at all. She was absolutely drenched and her eyes were just staring. But she was still breathing.

“It was a Sunday evening but they opened the surgery for us and they were absolutely fantastic. Although they told us it wasn’t looking good and Lulu might have brain damage.

“The vet kept coming out to give us updates. We waited for what felt like forever, but was probably three or four hours, while they worked on her.”

She was transferred to the University of Liverpool Leahurst Vetinary School at around midnight that night, where she stayed in the intensive care unit for three days until she was well enough to go home.

Greg said Lulu, aka The Scrunchie, has made a full recovery and settled back in at home with their other cat Coco.

He said: “She is completely back to normal and isn’t even nervous around the washing machine – although I am now.

“My neighbour and Acorn Vets were fantastic and acted so quickly to save her. Everyone at Leahurst was brilliant too.

“I know cats have nine lives but I think Lulu has lost about seven of them now.”

*Photos courtesy of The Liverpool Echo.