Insights from veterinary guidance commonly shared in Texas

Many pet owners hear the phrase “a car has cats” and assume it refers to animals hiding under the hood. In everyday automotive language, however, “cats” usually means catalytic converters—components in a vehicle’s exhaust system that reduce harmful emissions.

For pet owners, this small piece of automotive terminology can carry real safety implications. Cars equipped with catalytic converters generate intense heat and release chemical byproducts that can affect animals nearby. Dogs and outdoor pets are especially vulnerable because they often rest, explore, or seek warmth around parked vehicles.

Understanding what “cats” in a car actually means—and how they affect the environment around a parked or running vehicle—helps pet owners prevent avoidable injuries and health risks.

What catalytic converters do

A catalytic converter is designed to clean exhaust gases before they leave a vehicle’s tailpipe. As hot exhaust passes through the device, chemical reactions transform toxic pollutants into less harmful substances.

To make those reactions happen, catalytic converters operate at extremely high temperatures. Even after the engine is turned off, the metal casing can remain dangerously hot for a long time.

This heat is the key reason they matter for pet safety.

Why pets are drawn to vehicles

Dogs and other animals often gather around cars for simple, instinctive reasons:

• Warmth from engine components after the vehicle is parked

• Shelter under the chassis

• Curiosity about unfamiliar smells

• Habitual resting spots in driveways or garages

Catalytic converters are usually located underneath the vehicle, near areas where animals might lie down or pass through. The combination of residual heat and easy access creates a hidden hazard.

Pets do not recognize heat risk the way humans do. A dog resting under a recently driven vehicle may remain in place long enough to suffer burns or heat stress without realizing the danger.

Heat exposure and burn risk

The most immediate concern is thermal injury.

Catalytic converters can reach temperatures hot enough to cause serious burns. Even after the engine stops running, the metal housing may stay hot for 30 minutes or more, depending on driving conditions and ambient temperature.

Pets can be harmed in several ways:

• Direct contact with hot metal

• Prolonged exposure to heat radiating downward

• Being trapped under a low vehicle with limited air movement

Burns to the skin, paws, or nose are possible if an animal touches or presses against heated parts. Because dogs explore with their noses and bodies close to the ground, contact is more likely than many owners realize.

Exhaust gases and air quality

Catalytic converters reduce pollution, but they do not eliminate exhaust gases entirely. Vehicles still release carbon dioxide and small amounts of other substances.

In enclosed or poorly ventilated areas, such as garages or covered parking spaces, these gases can accumulate. Animals are more sensitive to air quality changes than humans in some situations, especially when confined close to the ground where fumes may concentrate.

Short exposure may cause mild irritation, but longer exposure can lead to:

• Breathing difficulty

• Lethargy

• Disorientation

• Collapse in severe cases

Running a car in an enclosed space where pets are present increases the risk, even if the engine operates only briefly.

The risk of sheltering under parked cars

One of the most common dangers occurs before a vehicle even starts moving.

Pets—especially smaller animals—sometimes hide under cars for shade or warmth. If the driver is unaware, the vehicle may be started or moved while the animal is still underneath.

Catalytic converters are not the only concern here, but their location near the vehicle’s underside increases the chance of contact or injury when the car begins to move.

This situation is more likely in shared parking areas, driveways where pets roam freely, or neighborhoods where animals wander outdoors.

Misunderstandings that increase risk

Several common beliefs lead pet owners to underestimate the danger.

“The car is off, so it’s safe.”

Residual heat remains long after driving ends. The absence of engine noise does not mean the vehicle is cool.

“Only the engine area gets hot.”

Heat spreads throughout exhaust components, including the underside where animals rest.

“Catalytic converters make exhaust harmless.”

They reduce pollution but do not eliminate all gases. Ventilation still matters.

“Pets will move if something is uncomfortable.”

Animals do not always recognize gradual heat buildup or may stay in place for comfort.

Mistakes pet owners commonly make

Unintentional habits often create risk without owners realizing it.

• Allowing pets to roam freely around recently parked vehicles

• Leaving cars idling in garages where animals are present

• Failing to check under the car before starting or moving it

• Assuming outdoor pets naturally avoid hazards

• Parking immediately after long drives in areas where animals rest

Each of these situations increases the chance of heat exposure, inhalation of exhaust, or physical injury.

Practical prevention strategies

Safety largely depends on awareness and routine habits.

Parking and movement awareness is the most effective protection. A quick visual check around and under the vehicle before starting the engine can prevent serious accidents.

Managing pet access to parking areas also helps. Keeping animals out of enclosed garages while vehicles are running or cooling reduces exposure to both heat and fumes.

Allowing time for the vehicle to cool before pets approach is another simple safeguard. The hotter the engine was during driving, the longer the cooling period should be.

Consistent supervision matters most in shared or open spaces where animals might rest under multiple vehicles.

Recognizing signs of trouble

Pets exposed to excessive heat or exhaust may show subtle early symptoms. These can include restlessness, panting, drooling, or reluctance to move. More serious warning signs include burns, breathing difficulty, weakness, or collapse.

Prompt veterinary evaluation is necessary if any of these signs appear after exposure to a vehicle or enclosed parking area.

Early treatment greatly improves outcomes.

Responsible ownership and environmental awareness

Understanding that “a car has cats” refers to catalytic converters is more than a matter of mechanical knowledge. It connects directly to how vehicles affect the environment around them—and the animals living within that environment.

Catalytic converters play a beneficial role in reducing pollution, but their heat and location create predictable risks. These risks are not rare or unusual; they are built into how vehicles function.

Pet safety depends on recognizing those predictable conditions and managing them proactively.

A clear takeaway

Cars equipped with catalytic converters operate at high temperatures and continue releasing heat and exhaust even after driving ends. Pets drawn to warmth, shelter, or curiosity may come into direct contact with these hazards without recognizing the danger.

Checking around vehicles, allowing cooling time, and controlling pet access to parking areas are simple actions that prevent most incidents. Awareness of how vehicles function—and how animals behave around them—supports safer environments for pets and more informed daily decisions by their owners.