A female tabby, since nicknamed “Daikin” was rescued yesterday in Coorparoo on Brisbane’s southside after spending nearly a week trapped within an old air conditioning unit.

The property owner heard strange noises from her 1970s-era air conditioner, but attributed the sounds to a rat infestation.

Rescuers were shocked to find an adult cat in such a tight space.

When we got out there we saw this very old air-con unit built in the 1970’s, a real dinosaur of a thing,” RSPCA ambulance officer Katrina Farmer said today.

“We thought we might be dealing with rats at first, the smell of urine was so pungent.”

Rescue workers said that the badly malnourished and dehydrated tabby had been trapped inside by a turbine for at least five days and could only be freed when the air conditioner was ripped off the wall.

“She is extremely dehydrated, frightened, and skinny which is no wonder after being stuck in there for so long,” RSPCA senior veterinarian Vicky Lomax said.

“She also has burns to her ears, and injuries to her front legs as though she has been dragging herself along.”

Rescuers have no clue as to how Daikin was able to climb inside the air conditioning unit.

“It has really surprised us. Cats are known to squeeze into strange places, but this was a very, very tight space.”

Daikin has undergone surgery today while the animal charity begins the search for her owners.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RSPCA’s Fairfield shelter on 3426 9989.

[LINK: Brisbane Times]