A kitten stuck inside a car's dashboard has been saved and returned to its grateful owners, thanks to the efforts of Tauranga firefighters.
Firefighters received a call from the Greerton McDonalds car park to help rescue the tiny feline at 11.45pm last night.
Station officer Paul van Kol said the kitten had become trapped under the dashboard of the car and its owners were concerned for its safety after it didn't come out when the car doors were left open.
"The boys were just about to give up but managed to wiggle that old speedometer that popped out and there it was just sitting there."
Mr van Kol said the owner of the vehicle worked as a salesperson and was concerned about travelling around the country today with the kitten still inside.
The owner was particularly grateful for the rescue, Mr van Kol said.
"We spent a bit of time there, [officers] tried to help."
The kitten was safety reunited with its owner at 12.25am.
Northern Fire Communications shift manager Paul Radden said the incident was described in a situation report as the brigade's "finest cat whisperer trying to coax cat from dashboard".
By Kiri Gillespie of the Bay of Plenty Times
