A cat had a miraculous escape after becoming entangled in a car’s engine.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Timmy stowed away in Jane Butcher’s vehicle on the five-mile trip between her home in East Malling and Family Bargains in Maidstone.

Mrs Butcher, of Elm Crescent, was only alerted to the presence of the animal when she smelt burning and pulled over by the 20/20 business park on London Road.

Video: Cat survives five-mile journey stuck in car's engine compartment

Upon discovering the tom cat at around 10am on Monday, she immediately phoned a mechanic.

He had to unbolt the air box to extract Timmy, whose legs had become wedged in the motor.

Her daughter Chloe, who happened to be passing in her own car at the time, went home to get a cat box which was then used to transfer the pet to nearby Sandhole Veterinary Centre for a check over.

Mrs Butcher, whose husband Clive later joked that the car is running purrfectly despite the catastrophe, said: “I couldn’t believe it, he must be invincible.

"I’m a big animal lover so I was mortified when I saw him. I flagged a police car down and they escorted us to the vets.”

Miraculously, the singed feline escaped with no injuries and was reunited with his thrilled owner, 25-year-old Filipa Cunha, later that morning.

The mother-of-one, who lives opposite Mrs Butcher, said: “Timmy went missing on Sunday morning and we started to fear the worst.

"He does wander around the neighbourhood but not for that long. When the vets called me on Monday morning and told me he’d been found in an engine I was really worried he’d be badly injured. The fact he was not even scratched is amazing.”

It turns out its not the first time budding contortionist Timmy has moved in to a rather unconventional location.

He once went missing for five days, only to be found crammed inside a neighbour’s sofa.

Mrs Cunha added: “Timmy always joins me and the dogs on trips to the park, I think he sees himself as one of them. I want to put a camera of his collar and see what he gets up to when I’m out.”

Rebecca Mather, practice manager of Sandhole Veterinary Centre, said: "Little Timmy was brought in as an emergency and fully checked over. Miraculously he had no injuries whatsoever but was a bit smelly due to his time in the engine.

"I have never seen anything like this but I have heard of it before."

She added: "In this cold weather cats can find themselves in places they should not as they are looking for warmth.

"Motorists should also be aware that anti freeze is very poisonous for cats and that they are quite fond of the taste, so where possible should try to clear it up if spilled."

The death defying kitty, who was brought back from Portugal as a wedding anniversary present, was taking a well deserved break from his antics at home on Wednesday but appeared slightly wary of Mrs Butcher’s Kia Venga when our photographer turned up to take his picture.