With freezing conditions continuing to grip the UK, motorists are seeking the best hacks to defrost their car windscreens on frosty mornings. Not all the viral tips work, however, and experts have urged drivers to avoid using boiling water directly onto windscreens.
Although most drivers will know not to use this method to defrost their car windscreens, there are other things you need to look out for when preparing your vehicle for the road. Experts have been quick to point out that you need to make sure there are no animals sheltering underneath your car.
It’s important to search underneath your car and check the wheel arches of your vehicle so you don’t accidentally harm any creates, motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have warned. Cats in particular are prone to hiding under cars and drivers are urged to look out for them, the Mirror reports.
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If a car pulls away, a sleeping cat could be seriously injured or even killed. Each year thousands of cats are killed and injured on UK roads and the experts say many of them may have been sheltering against the cold under vehicles.
As we face brutal weather in upcoming months, all car owners are being asked to be on the lookout for pets before they get behind the wheel. It's not only cat-owning motorists who should be on the lookout, as experts warn that pets don't just target their owner's vehicles for shelter.
Hiding underneath cars and vans allows cats to feel protected against cold winds and biting frosts. They can also gain warmth from the vehicle's engine if it has been recently running.
Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: "No driver wants to be responsible for the death of somebody's beloved pet cat.
"But on these cold mornings, it's important to bear in mind that someone's furry friend may be peacefully slumbering under the car. We're asking every driver to spend a couple of minutes checking for any pets that might be lurking around the tyres or under the car.
"If you do find a cat under the car give it a nudge or shoo it away before turning the engine on and gently pulling away. It's important for all drivers to be aware of this and not just those who own cats. After all, cats don't just target their owner's cars for a snooze. Any vehicle is fair game to them."
Commenting on the awful consequences of the mistake, Tim added: "Accidentally harming a neighbour's cat could seriously damage relations with the neighbour themselves and could lead to all kinds of bitterness and other issues.
"So it really is worth taking a few minutes each morning to make sure there are no cats under the car. Unlike dogs, it isn't a good idea to let sleeping cats lie."
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