Aussie cat survives 1hr washing machine cycle

Courier-Mail

24-06-2025

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A Burmese kitten has miraculously escaped with his life after becoming trapped in a front loader washing machine at a Gold Coast home.
Nine-month-old Pablo was reportedly taking a nap inside the washing machine when his owner turned it on, unknowingly trapping him inside.
After the soapy 55-minute cycle, which had no clothes inside, Pablo was discovered in a critical condition and rushed to the emergency vet, SASH (the Small Animal Specialist Hospital.
SASH worker Ella Yarsley told 7NEWS that Pablo had suffered a 'brain injury, lung injury and lost several toes' in the accident.
The Burmese kitten miraculously survived the hour-long ordeal. Picture: 7NEWS
Staff said the kitten was in a 'dire' condition. Picture: 7NEWS
'He was probably in the most dire condition I've seen in a case in a long time,' she said.
'Not many have seen cats go through a whole cycle and survive … it was pretty close to a miracle.'
Thankfully, Pablo is said to be 'almost back to full health'.
Pablo has now 'almost made a full recovery'. Picture: 7NEWS
In an almost identical incident, a Burmese cat on Queensland's Sunshine Coast became trapped in a hot cycle in July 2020.
Oscar, 2, had been seeking a nap inside the warm machine before he was put through a horror 12-minute cycle with detergent.
Oscar's owner Amanda Meredith, who lives in Mudjimba, told ABC at the time she heard a strange meowing sound after her husband, Angelo, put the bed sheets in the front loader washing machine.
Assuming the sound was coming from the cupboard, Ms Meredith went to hang out another load of washing – though when she came back inside and heard continued meowing, she realised Oscar was in the machine.
Cats are likely to seek out warm spaces like washing machines during the winter. Picture: iStock
'The poor little cat had his hands on the glass as he was doing the rotations and he was looking at me,' she said.
'It was tragic.'
The Sunshine Coast vet who treated the pet, Dan Capps, told the ABC he was 'a very lucky but strong little fellow'.
'This is not the first time this has happened. During the cooler weather it is the perfect place for feline friends to try and hide for a warm nap,' Dr Capps said.
Cat owners are urged to always check the inside of their machines before turning them on.
Originally published as 'Miracle': Kitten survives after one-hour washing machine horror