This is why tapping the hood of your car before starting should be an essential action all winter long.

This is why tapping the hood of your car before

When the temperatures drop, we can’t wait to get in the car, start it and turn on the heater. But a simple gesture is often forgotten before switching on the ignition.

Winter and the cold sometimes make us lose our good habits: we are in a hurry to arrive at our destination, but above all to start to warm up inside the vehicle. However, certain actions are essential when temperatures drop. For example, it is recommended to tap the hood, the doors or even the chassis before switching on the ignition and pressing the pedal. You can also honk the horn before starting, or open the hood if necessary. But for what reasons exactly?

These few actions can indeed save lives. And for good reason: in winter, these places remain heated by the engine (even when it is turned off) and thus become a favorite place for cats, who come to snuggle up there. In addition to warming them, cars offer them protection in rain, wind or snow. But if a cat is hidden in the engine of the car and you start it, it risks serious burns. It’s also difficult for him to get out of the engine if the car is launched…

To access the engine, cats tend to slip into the compartment via the bottom of the bodywork. But they can also take refuge under the chassis, above the wheel for example. Note that kittens are a little more fearful than adults. They could remain immobile despite various attempts to scare them away. If you suspect the presence of a cat before getting into the vehicle, do not hesitate to take a look to check.

Finally, be aware that other animals may hide inside the vehicle during the winter. Depending on your geographical area, and particularly if you live in the countryside, these could be raccoons, badgers, martens or weasels but also birds, rats or mice, hedgehogs or even squirrels. .

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