This! http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/this-cat-amazingly-survived-a-60c-washing-machine-cycle-746926.html

It reminded me of a similar close shave with death and I am sure many of you have similar wonders...

When I came to Ireland I lived as i do now in a very remote mountain area with my last three Siamese/Siamese cross cats.

Chiquita was a pretty and feisty cat... in her older age she went deaf and I let her sleep separately from the boys for many reasons.

So she was in the little bathroom one night and when I went in there around 2 am as one does...

The immersion water heater was in a locker. She had evidently tried to leap atop of it for the warmth and slid down the side.

And was caught around her waist in a 2 inch gap between tank and wall... Alive but bleeding from the back passage.

Small hours atop an Irish mountain with a trapped cat.. Utter helpless panic...No one to call for help; rang family in Canada, stood there with a saw in my hand....

HAD to get her out, and realised that while that might kill her, still had to be done.

Stroke of genius.....Grabbed a big bottle of cooking oil and poured it all over her, then slowly winkled her out well lubricated, wriggling her gently upwards until the space was wide enough where the tank tapered and ended. Talking to her all the while in the silent Irish night..

Thought she was a goner, and getting the oil off her! She peed blood and I called the vet when day came. They said she had clearly bruised her kidneys but as she was eating and drinking she may well be fine and there was nothing else to be done ..

Thankfully she recovered. Oily cat for weeks.. and never ever again was any cat allowed near the bathroom..