Cat hides under hood during long commute

WATERLOO, Ill., July 10 (UPI) -- An Illinois insurance agent said his serial-stowaway cat has ridden more than 300 miles under the hood of his car.

Jeff Dehner, who commutes nearly 120 miles each morning from his Waterloo, Ill., home to American Family Insurance in Springfield, Ill., said he was shocked to see the kitten, Inky, run through the parking lot of his work when he arrived Thursday, the Springfield State Journal Register reported Friday.

"He must have climbed up in the drive shaft," Dehner said. "There must be something up there protecting him, because it's not an easy ride. The bed bounces."

Dehner said it was not the first time Inky has hitched a ride under his hood. He said the cat was apparently under the hood for more than 200 miles about three weeks ago before crawling out into the 90 degree heat.

"He was panting like a dog," Dehner said. "I put him in the cab of the truck and cranked the AC. He kicked back like he owned the world."