Vet's warning every pet owner should read after cat miraculously survived four hours inside a tumble dryer

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 15:41, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 15:41, 8 July 2026 A Melbourne cat's brush with death has served a timely reminder to pet owners around Australia. Owner Syma discovered her 11-year-old cat, Minam, inside a dryer after a four-hour cycle last Wednesday morning. Syma believes the cat crawled into the dryer looking for a warm spot and was hidden by a doona. 'I left for work and to drop my kid off at kinder and I came back about four hours later and didn't see him in his little house,' she told 7News. Syma began calling out for Minam and eventually noticed weak meows coming from the dryer.  The machine was still warm and Minam was noticeably shaken.  'I opened the door and he was just standing there on the doona. He looked normal at first, but then when I picked him up, he had some drool on the side of his mouth and he started panting,' Syma said. The pair rushed to Lort Smith Animal Hospital where vets found Minam had suffered a range of serious injuries including full-body bruising, a swollen tongue, dehydration and damage to his mouth and eyes. Minam's owner, Syma (above), had discovered Minam in the dryer after hearing weak meows Minam (above) survived after spending four hours in a dryer It's believed the cat was protected from further injury by the doona.  Minam spent two days in an oxygen tank in the hospital's intensive care unit. Thankfully, a week on from the incident and the elderly cat has fully recovered.  'He's completely fine. You'd never think that he was in the dryer at all. He's completely demanding cuddles and pats and food all the time,' Syma said. Nevertheless, Syma said she's been racked with guilt and 'traumatised' by her cat's near-death experience. Lort Smith Animal Hospital's head vet, Kassandra Makeham, warned it's common for pets to wind up in dangerous situations while seeking warmth. She urged pet owners to always keep appliance doors closed.  The warning is especially important in winter as animal search for new, warmer places to hide.  Minam (above) was protected from worse injury by a massive doona in the dryer 'As the weather gets colder, cats are naturally drawn to warm, enclosed spaces, including clothes dryers and washing machines,' Dr Makeham said.  'When incidents like this happen, the consequences can be devastating.  'Taking a few extra seconds to check inside your dryer or washing machine before turning it on could save your cat's life.'