I don’t think I’ve ever felt so guilty in my whole life. Even though I checked the clothes in the dryer to see if they were still damp before I turned it on, I somehow missed the kitten asleep in there. He got tumbled for 10 minutes before I came back upstairs and realized that the dryer noise wasn’t typical for a load of socks and teeshirts.
Poor baby. He’s just a little fella, about 7 weeks old. I’m devastated.
He’s at the vet’s office for the weekend, where he’s receiving antibiotics and steroids and diuretics and IV fluids for a concussion and difficulty breathing. I’m supposed to call back in the morning; they didn’t call this evening so I’m assuming he’s still alive.
If he survives, I’m gonna have to name him Cash or Lucky or Guilt, and pamper him for the rest of his life. Right now, I’ll take it…I just want him to be okay.
I couldn’t tell you the last time I got hysterical–but when I pulled that little gray limp body out of that hot dryer, I went absolutely over the edge. I don’t even kill BUGS, for heaven’s sake…and now this. Man. I’m going to have a hard time sleeping tonight, I think. 
Damn.
OH MY GOD!!!
I understand though, I am always paranoid about my cat getting in the dryer so whenever I put clothes in I make sure I see her. Of course she’s not a tiny thing, far from it, but I know her dumb ass and she’d climb inside the dryer just to be nosy. I would so be devasted if I dried her! Man how hot the dryer must have been!
Let us know if your baby pulls through. it really is sad and I hope he fully recovers.
My wife accidentally killed her cat doing that. It was way before I met her.
She still feels guilty about it.
When my Mama Cass’s babies were ready to give away, someone came to see them. Ibumped the bed they were hiding under. The leg of the headboard caught one baby’s head. I dived under the bed just as Cassy did. She mangled my face, our boy Maxx got between her and my face, I snatched up the baby. She was seizing. The woman looking at them was screaming I was screaming and bleeding.
I was sure the kitten was dying. My husband came home, became hysterical, and wanted to put it down immediately.
No one in that room that that kitten could possibly be okay.
The woman asked if she could please take it home, just in case.
At 5:30 the next morning, the phone rang. I was sure the woman was calling to say the kitten had died. No. She was calling to ask if she could come over to get food and litter, because she had to leave for work and kitty was hungry.
Good luck with your baby. As my story shows, they are very resilent!
Thanks, guys. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I’m just glad I got to him when I did…I think another two minutes would’ve done him in. At least now, with, oh, hundreds of dollars worth of care, he might make it.
Which gives me yet another thing to worry about…but that’s okay. Bills can be rearranged.
Oh my fucking God. I feel so horribly bad for you. But you obviously care, and I really hope little kitty makes a full recovery. He’ll forgive you, it was a mistake.
Darn that curiosity and the cat thing!
Oh honey!
I haven’t heard from you in a while and now when I do it’s heartbreaking news.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and kitty.
The kids didn’t see it did they?
Sage/Babypoet was the only kiddo home at the time. Luckily she was downstairs for the worst of it. By the time she came in, he was at least breathing a bit better (as opposed to that horrible death-throes stuff he was doing at first) and I was slightly less hysterical.
She didn’t seem terribly upset…I told her Kitty was hurt and that I had to take her to the doctor, and that was enough for her. And in her typical fashion, she assumed my hysterical-locked-in-the-bathroom weeping was laughter, and stood outside the door giggling along.
Kricket, I’m trying to add you to my yahoo messenger…
Wishing you and the little fuzzer good things, bodypoet. If he does well, maybe Bounce would be an appropriate name. 
It happens a lot. Anyone with cats and dryers should develop the habit of checking it before turning it on. Hopefully, he will be okay.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear this happened.
I definitely hope the little guy is going to be okay.
Don’t blame yourself. It was a mistake that could have happened to anyone.
Oh, god! Poor kitty and poor you!
I hope the little furball has a full recovery.
Yes! Yes! Perfect name!
bodypoet, I hope the kitty’s okay. Keep us updated.
My mom did this to a dog of ours about ten years ago and it took her quite a while to admit it to me. For two or three years, I just thought he had run away but apparently, she just didn’t pay attention to the dryer and since she was drying some sneakers anyway, the noise didn’t alert her to it.
Has to be a horrible way to go. I’m glad your kitten survived. 
Oh bodypoet , my heart goes out to you…I’ll send out some good vibes for both of you.
Another vote for danceswithcats’ name for kitty…puuurfect (couldn’t resist)
Keep us posted on how little Bounce is doing.
Oh, man. I’m so sorry.
I hope that the little one pulls through just fine. All animals are pretty resiliant when they’re young, I think. I’ll keep you and the kitten in my thoughts.
I hope your kitty recovers. The poor little thing!
I knew a guy once who had that happen with his cat. It seemed totally unscathed by it, but afterwards it would be curled up asleep sometimes and then would suddenly awaken and run up the nearest curtain with a wild yowling.
Not quite unscathed, apparently.
Oh, that must have felt awful ! Best wishes to all of you. It’s a good thing you posted this thread; you might have saved another kitty by it, because anyone reading won’t forget to check their dryer for a loooong time.
What an experience for both of you. I hope kitty recovers quickly. (And another vote for Bounce, if you’re counting.) I’m curious, though, why they put the kitty on antibiotics. I’m not questioning the vet by any means, I’m sure there is a good reason, just curious.
Hope you get good news this morning and hope you got some sleep last night.
Bodypoet I am so sorry for you and the kitty. I am sure he will recover fine and be a happy cat.
I am curious… How does a cat get into a dryer without you knowing about it? Having been a cat owner for 23 plus years this has never happened to me. My cats have always stayed clear of the dryer. The only time the dryer door is open around here, is when clothes are going in or out. We unload into a wicker basket so the door doesn’t stay left opened while you cart clothes around to be folded.