I was only drying to have a nap, says curious Cleo

The machine was then turned on and Cleo was trapped in there overnight, losing one of her nine lives.

Luckily, the dryer was put on for about an hour on a low heat, which vets at Taylor & Marshall Veterinary Surgeons in Shifnal say saved her life. But Cleo was not discovered until the following morning when the owner – who did not want to be named – took the washing out of the machine. She took Cleo straight to the vets, where she was put on a drip and treated for minor burns, and she was released the same day.

Helen Wishart, principle veterinary surgeon, said Cleo has made a full recovery and that she was happy with her progress.

"When she was brought in the owner was ever so upset," she said. "She put some washing in the tumble dryer before she went to bed and while her back was turned Cleo got in the tumble dryer. Without knowing she put the machine on an hour spin, where the cat was trapped.

"In the morning the lady realised the cat wasn't around, but it wasn't until she opened the tumble dryer she found Cleo. She brought her straight in here where the cat had some burns and was very dehydrated.

"Cleo was put on a drip and we monitored her, but she was a lot better by the end of the day."

Now vets at the practice are warning cat owners to check their tumble dryers during the cold months.