Doug and Laura Pendergrast arrived at North Taranaki SPCA with baby in tow to pick up their cat, Phillip. They drove down to New Plymouth to pick him up - the same journey Phillip made five days ago wedged in the front of a Chevy Camaro.
"It's a miracle," Ms Pendergrast said. "He should've been hit and another cat on the side of the road, but he must have got trapped or something. It's honest to God a miracle."
The North Taranaki SPCA nursed the hypothermic cat back to health. His only injury was a broken claw. It then put out a plea on Facebook to find his owners.
"As soon as I saw his photo I knew it was him [with] his little comb-over, his little goatee. He was a bit dirtier, but it was him," Ms Pendergrast said.
Phillip's tale begins on Tuesday when a man left Orewa early heading south. He made the four-and-a-half-hour journey without any stops because he was going to a funeral. He arrived in New Plymouth late in the morning, but Phillip's owners live in Ngāruawāhia.
The driver of the Camaro was keen to stay out of the limelight, but told Jackie Poles Smith he recalled slowing down to about 30km/h in Ngāruawāhia near where the Pendergrasts live on Whatawhata Ave.
Phillip was found wedged between the radiator and the bumper on a 2012 Camaro. If you were to look at a similar model it would be mystifying as to how he got in there when the car was moving.
He was only noticed by passers-by in New Plymouth by his little paw poking through the grille.
"I found out the road he took and it was our road," said Ms Pendergrast. "I have no idea how it happened - absolutely amazing."
Phillip had never been lost before. Ms Pendergrast said he was a great cat and quite spoilt. With four kids and a dog, she didn't notice him missing.
Now he's back up the road, this time warm and safe with his family. It seems like the only one who will ever know how he got there is Phillip.
Just in case he ever pulls a stunt like this again, the SPCA fitted him with a microchip.
Newshub.
