Cat survives 12-minute hot water washing machine cycle

A Burmese cat in Queensland is lucky to be alive after he fell asleep inside a washing machine and got trapped in a hot 12-minute cycle.

A Burmese cat on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is “very lucky” to be alive after seeking a nap inside a washing machine, only to get trapped in a 12-minute hot cycle – with detergent.

Two-year-old Oscar’s owner Amanda Meredith, who lives in Mudjimba, told ABC 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.

“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.”

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Oscar, the two-year-old Burmese, in front of the washing machine where he was trapped. Picture: Amanda Meredith

Oscar recovering after the ordeal. Picture: Amanda Meredith

It took two minutes for the machine to drain and turn off before the door could be opened and the feline released.

Ms Meredith was told by her vet, Dan Capps, who works at Coolum Beach’s Beachside Veterinary Surgery, the first six hours would be “touch and go”.

Thankfully, Oscar made it out of the ordeal alive – and though he was left battered and bruised from the machine’s hard fins, his fur was “very soft” upon getting out.

“He’s a very lucky but strong little fellow,” Dr Capps told ABC, who added ordeals like Oscar’s weren’t as unusual as some might think.

“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.”

Oscar stayed at the veterinary practice for 24 hours and given anti-inflammatories, among other medication, before heading home where Ms Meredith said he slept solidly for the next week.

After seven days recovery, he’s now doing just fine.

“There was no damage,” Ms Meredith said, estimating he may have used up “three of his nine lives”.

Now, “he sits there and watches it (the washing machine) tumble-turn all the time,” she said.

“Maybe he has PTSD or something – he has to sit at the door watching the wash cycle.”