Cats rescued from abandoned vehicles in Metro Vancouver

The B.C. SPCA provided this photo of a cat and kittens rescued from an abandoned vehicle in December, 2024.

Multiple cats have been found in abandoned vehicles that have been towed in Metro Vancouver over the past month, according to the B.C. SPCA.

In once incident, employees of the towing company found an elderly black cat and a younger grey cat in a car that was filled with "hazardous items," including rotting food and garbage, a spokesperson for the charity said.

"The vehicle’s windows were closed, and it smelled strongly of feces and urine,” said Eileen Drever, the B.C. SPCA’s senior officer, protection, and stakeholder relations.

“It took quite some time to get the cats safely into carriers as the cats were nervous and they tried to retreat to the rear of the vehicle there was a concern some of the haphazardly stacked items would fall on them."

The two cats were brought to the Vancouver animal centre, where the black cat remains in care. The gray cat, according to the organization, has found a forever home.

The second rescue happened in Abbotsford, where an abandoned car with flat tires was recently towed to a tire shop – where staff discovered one cat and two kittens living inside. All three are currently in foster care and will be available for adoption in three to four weeks, the B.C. SPCA says.

The organization, which posted about the rescues online Thursday, is urging people who are struggling to care for their pets to contact the B.C. SPCA's animal helpline.