LOOKING for somewhere warm to rest her weary head this crafty little feline thought she had found the purr-fect place for a cat nap.Shrouded in darkness and shielded from the biting cold night air she snuggled up in her cosy makeshift bed to settle down for 40 winks blissfully unaware of her surroundings.

By Matt Eley

LOOKING for somewhere warm to rest her weary head this crafty little feline thought she had found the purr-fect place for a cat nap.

Shrouded in darkness and shielded from the biting cold night air she snuggled up in her cosy makeshift bed to settle down for 40 winks blissfully unaware of her surroundings.

However it would not be long before the innocent little moggy received a rude awakening from her slumbers.

And it was not only her who was in for the shock of her nine lives.

Matthew Keys and his partner Sarah Bowen were also astounded when they found the friendly little furball.

For when the discovery came, they had just driven 13 miles from Ipswich to Brantham with their unexpected lodger nestling under the bonnet of their car.

The couple thought something was not quite right when they heard strange noises coming from their vehicle as they were driving along. But it was only when they lifted the bonnet that they realised the purr of their engine had been exchanged for the purr of a cheeky little cat.

Amazingly their mysterious hitch-hiker emerged unscathed from her journey through the Suffolk countryside despite being just inches away from the engine for the entire trip.

Recruitment consultant Mr Keys said he was astonished to find her nestling near the engine when he looked inside and even more surprised when he realised it hadn't been injured.

The 25-year-old said: "We left the car at Cardinal Park for the night and drove to Brantham the next day.

"When we arrived Sarah said she heard a strange noise coming from the engine that sounded like a distressed cat. I thought it was probably just the engine but when I opened up the bonnet there it was, near the wheel arch."

Miss Bowen, of Cedar Close, Brantham, added they were extremely surprised and had no idea how the black and white cat had managed to find its way under the bonnet on Friday evening.

The 24-year-old said: "I imagine the engine must have been warm so she probably thought it was a good place to rest but I have no idea how she got in the car. She must have fallen asleep and woken up halfway through the journey.

"It was really strange it's not the sort of thing you expect to see when you lift up the bonnet."

Mr Keys said: "It can only have got in the car at Cardinal Park because we drove all the back without stopping once, so it couldn't have got in any other way."

The couple are now trying to find the cat's owner and return her home.

Miss Bowen said: "We're fairly sure it's a she and that she is somebody's pet because she has a blue collar that looks relatively new. She's fairly docile and good around people."

If you think it might be your missing mog who went on the epic journey contact Miss Bowen on 01206 391838.