Thomas is feline fine (From Worcester News)

Thomas is feline fine

6:10pm Tuesday 6th January 2009 in

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THOMAS the kitten was mistakenly shut inside a washing machine for five days – and survived.

The two-month-old tabby hopped in the tub just before owner Darren Nellist and girlfriend Maria Richardson went to stay with friends for new year.

They thought their pet was hiding in the house in Hereford and left food and water out for him.

But it was untouched when they returned and a two-day search failed to find Thomas.

Then Miss Richardson found him unconscious when she filled the washer.

Mr Nellist, aged 34, said: “I thought maybe he had run away or been hit by a car. It was a complete mystery.

"When we opened up the machine and saw him in there I feared the worst. He wasn’t moving so we started panicking and phoned the vet but then after 10 minutes he stood up and walked to his food bowl.

"He must have been really hungry but had probably just spent the whole five days sleeping.

“When he first got up he was a bit wobbly but after he had eaten some food it was like nothing had happened.”