When a Chapel Hill Tire technician was checking a Kia Telluride in the shop for some work, he couldn’t believe at first what he heard: meows coming from the front right of the SUV.

The car care center at Cole Park Plaza in Chatham County had an usual 24 hours after the technician pulled a black kitten out of the vehicle on Tuesday. The business shared a photo on social media of the rescued cat, who staff believe hitched a ride in the vehicle, held on for dear life and avoided any injury.

Chapel Hill Tire Location Manager Chris LaFreniere told Chapelboro his team called the owner of the car and asked if it was their cat. After initially saying yes and returning to the service center, the owner realized it was not their animal — leading Chapel Hill Tire to house the kitten for Tuesday and some of Wednesday.

Photo via Chapel Hill Tire on Facebook.

LaFreniere said his staff believe the kitten held onto the front right coil spring strut of the car and was aided by the vehicle being higher off the ground than a sedan. The creature was terrified when the technician pulled it out of the vehicle, but LaFreniere said the kitten calmed down and became friendly when safe in the staff office.

“He is such a tiny little guy, he was able to hold on inside the spring bucket — imagine a spring on a car, there was just enough space [to hold on],” the manager said. “It reminds of the meme of the cat on the clothes line, saying, ‘Hang in there!’ It was just like that…the little guy had a lot of will.”

After the Chapel Hill Tire crew dubbed the kitten as Batman, a customer on Wednesday played with the kitten while her car was serviced and ultimately took him to the vet. LaFreniere said, as of Thursday, Batman was given a clean bill of health and is staying with that customer after the pair quickly bonded.

“He’s got a new home and a nice family,” LaFrieniere said, adding that the name Batman stuck. “They took him to the vet immediately…what’s amazing is he wasn’t hurt. It’s just a great story.”

Featured photo via Chapel Hill Tire.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Adopt the Powerpuff Girls
Meet the Powerpuff Girls: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. These three sisters, named after the main characters from the popular cartoon, are looking for a home. The Powerpuff Girls are three months old.  The kittens are at Orange County Animal Services. They are energetic.  The three sisters played together in the WCHL and Chapelboro office.  They […]
Chatham County Sheriff: New York Man Charged with Financial Card Fraud, Identity Theft
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is charging a New York City man with financial card fraud and identity theft following an investigation into unauthorized purchases made with a victim’s card. Zhiyuan Zhao, 41, of Flushing, N.Y. is charged with one count of felony financial card fraud, one count of felony identity theft and four counts […]
The Morning News: Chatham Pipeline, Seth Trimble
In today's news: Chatham residents oppose a proposed natural gas pipeline, and UNC basketball star Seth Trimble transfers to Louisville.
Photo Gallery: Chatham County Residents Voice Concerns With Enbridge Pipeline
Photographer Elena Pace captured photos of a special meeting regarding a proposed natural gas pipeline in Chatham County.
The Morning News: VinFast, Binkley Baptist, UNC Basketball
In today's news: local officials take action against the EV maker VinFast, and UNC men's basketball adds a preseason exhibition against USC.
As North Carolina Sues VinFast Over Stalled Plant, Here's A Timeline of the Chatham County Project
More than four years after the initial announcement of plans for Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast to establish a U.S. base in Chatham County, little progress on construction of the plant has been made.
Town of Pittsboro Hires Kevin Lewis as New Planning Director
The Town of Pittsboro has hired Kevin Lewis as its next Planning Director. Lewis, who comes to Pittsboro after managing the planning program with the nearby Town of Knightdale, will begin work Aug. 31. “We are excited to welcome Kevin to the Town of Pittsboro,” Town Manager Jonathan Franklin said in a release Monday morning. […]
The Morning News: Chatham Residents Fight Pipeline, Breadman's Shut Down, Steve Belichick on Medical Leave
Chatham County residents speak out against a proposed natural gas pipeline, and an iconic Chapel Hill restaurant is abruptly shuttered.
Chatham County Residents Speak Out Against Proposed Enbridge Gas Pipeline
More than 300 people who are against the development attended, and 50 of them spoke directly to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.
Latest Update on Disney's Asteria Neighborhood in Pittsboro Features Entrance Design
Disney posted the "first look" of its entrance sign into Pittsboro's Asteria neighborhood on Wednesday, featuring a "moon gate" archway.
›