This South Dakota Cat Was Rescued After Riding in a Car Engine — 600+ Days Later, She’s Still Waiting for a Home
There’s no catch with this sweet, young tabby — sometimes a great cat simply gets overlooked.
by Katie Koschalk, | August 26, 2026
Share
In the winter of 2024, a kitten arrived at All Cats Rescue in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after an unexpected road trip.
In this article:
The tiny tabby — now named Lotus — had climbed into the engine compartment of a car and ridden all the way to a Walmart. Thankfully, Lotus survived her wild ride and made it safely into foster care.
Now a happy, affectionate young adult cat, Lotus has been waiting more than 600 days for adoption. Her long wait is perplexing, as she’s a sweet, social girl who really is the whole feline package. In Lotus’ case, she simply seems to have been overlooked.
Adopting Lotus would be a win-win-win. She’d finally get a permanent home, you’d gain an incredible companion, and her foster family would have space to help another cat in need. With three million cats entering shelters and rescues in 2025 alone, every available foster home makes a difference.
Read on to learn more about Lotus’ story and why this sweet kitty is truly the cat’s meow. Could she be the feline bestie you’ve been searching for?
From a car engine to foster care
While it may sound odd for a cat to crawl into a car engine, kittens and adult cats sometimes seek shelter under car hoods in cold weather, attracted to the warmth. But they can be seriously injured or killed if the vehicle starts moving.
Luckily, Lotus’ unexpected ride had a happy ending. A nearby family in the Walmart parking lot heard Lotus’ cries and waited for the vehicle’s owner to return. Her rescuers were able to get Lotus out, and miraculously, she wasn’t injured.
After her rescue, Lotus settled into foster care through All Cats Rescue, where she quickly began thriving and showing everyone just how sweet, playful, and affectionate she truly is.
Adorable and still a kitten, Lotus seemed like a shoo-in for a quick adoption. But much to everyone’s surprise, the applications never came.
Today, she’s about two years old and has fortunately been with the same loving foster family the whole time. They’ve gotten to know her well, which means they can give potential adopters a good idea of what life with Lotus looks like.
How Lotus likes to spend her time
This curious girl loves chasing wand toys and laser pointers and keeping tabs on the outside world from her favorite window. She’s also interested in whatever her humans are doing and enjoys keeping tabs on all the household action.
When playtime and exploration are over, Lotus is happiest snuggled up close to her favorite people.
In her foster home, Lotus lives with other cats and genuinely seems to enjoy their company, so she may be a great fit for a family looking to add another cat to their feline crew.
She's also done well with children of all ages, but as with any pet, kids should understand how to read and respect her boundaries.
Why hasn’t Lotus been adopted yet?
So, why hasn’t someone scooped Lotus up yet? Like most cats, Lotus had her best shot at quickly finding a home when she was a kitten, since many adopters specifically seek out kittens.
But for whatever reason, Lotus was passed over, and now that she’s an adult, finding her match has become a bit more challenging. Not because there’s anything wrong with her — she simply doesn’t have the advantage of being a kitten anymore.
Another factor may be that Lotus isn’t a fan of being picked up or carried, which can make it harder for her to win over potential adopters during a meet-and-greet.
But her reluctance to be held shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of affection. In the comfort of her foster home, Lotus is a loving cat who genuinely enjoys a good snuggle and being around her people. Like many cats, she simply prefers affection with all four paws planted firmly on the ground.
For the right person, these considerations may actually be bonuses. At only two years old, Lotus offers plenty of the fun of a younger cat, but without the kitten chaos. Her personality is well established; she’s accustomed to life in a home, and she’s affectionate without demanding to be carried around. She really is the best of both worlds.
Could you be the person who finally chooses Lotus?
Lotus’ foster family loves having her, but there’s an important reason they’re hoping someone else will fall in love with her, too. Finding Lotus a permanent home means her foster family can welcome another cat who needs somewhere safe to land while waiting for adoption.
After more than 600 days, Lotus has waited through kittenhood, adolescence, and into adulthood without finding her match. She’s spayed, up to date on her vaccinations, and healthy. Now, she just needs the right person or family to come along.
Could you be the one to finally end Lotus’ wait?
Lotus is currently available for adoption through All Cats Rescue (ACR) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. To ask about adopting this incredible kitty, visit her adoption profile.
Still searching for your new best friend?
If Lotus has already found her home by the time you’re reading this, or she’s not quite the right fit, there are many other wonderful cats waiting at All Cats Rescue and other shelters and rescues across the country.
You can browse adoptable cats through Adopt a Pet and sign up for New Pet Alerts to get notified when cats who match what you’re looking for become available.
Katie Koschalk
Katie Koschalk is a freelance writer based in Northern California. Fusing her love and knowledge of animals with her journalism degree and years of professional writing, Katie is dedicated to improving the lives of pets and their caretakers by sharing helpful and accurate information. When she’s not at her desk, you can find her exploring trails with her Aussie, Hunter, cooking plant-based meals, and talking to her two cats, Jax and Sadie, in really ridiculous voices.