Sandy Springs Couple Rescued Kitten From Car
A six-week-old kitten was pulled from a vehicle's wheel well, leading to an immediate adoption by the local commuters.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Cats
Residents Nicole Motahari and Brandon Lou discovered a 1.2-pound kitten trapped in their car's wheel well while commuting to North Springs High School. First responders successfully freed the animal, which the couple has since adopted and named Friday Shadow.
Why it matters
Incidents involving animals in vehicle wheel wells highlight the importance of performing a quick walk-around inspection before starting your engine, especially during cooler seasons. This rescue prevented a potential injury to the kitten and resulted in a successful adoption for the Sandy Springs household.
The rescue involved a six-week-old kitten weighing 1.2 pounds. The operation required the combined efforts of three firefighters and two police officers to safely extricate the animal.
The players
Nicole Motahari
A Sandy Springs resident who rescued and adopted a kitten found in her vehicle.
Brandon Lou
A Sandy Springs resident who participated in the rescue and adoption of the trapped kitten.
The details
The couple stopped their vehicle in traffic after receiving an alert from another driver about the presence of the animal. Firefighters and police officers then arrived to safely free the kitten from the wheel well. The kitten, now named Friday Shadow, is currently under the care of the couple who plans to provide specialized feeding until the animal reaches a healthy weight of 2 pounds.
Timeline
October 9, 2026: The kitten was discovered and successfully rescued.
The Home Front
This incident follows a pattern set by the American Automobile Association's winter vehicle maintenance tips for pets. Experts routinely advise drivers to check wheel wells and engine bays as a safety measure to prevent harm to small animals seeking warmth in mechanical spaces.
Drivers should make a habit of performing a quick visual check of wheel wells and the space under their car before driving, especially as the weather turns cold. If you hear unexpected noises from your vehicle, pull over safely and inspect the area or contact professional help.
The takeaway
Always perform a quick walk-around of your vehicle to check for animals, particularly in the wheel wells or under the hood. For families who adopt, tracking the weight of young kittens until they reach the 2-pound milestone is a common and safe practice to monitor their development.
Further reading
For more on keeping household pets safe and healthy, explore our Cats section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rough Draft Atlanta.
