'Adventurous' Cat Hiding in Vehicle's Engine Is Saved from Car Crusher with Seconds to Spare

The cat named Lilly was reunited with her owner, who called the junkyard with the car crusher searching for the missing feline.

A curious cat was saved from a scary end at a North Carolina junkyard.

A junkyard employee found the feline hiding inside a vehicle's engine moments before the car was set to be sent into one of the facility's car crushers, the Brother Wolf Animal Rescue shared on social media. Before sending the vehicle into the car crusher, the employee decided to pull out the car's battery, and when he popped the hood, a little cat jumped out into his arms.

"She looked at him with soft eyes, thanking him with slow blinks and soft purrs," Brother Wolf Animal Rescue noted in the post. "It was almost like she knew that her life had been saved."

The employee kept her "bundled up inside" his jacket for the rest of his shift. After completing his work, the employee contacted Brother Wolf Animal Rescue for help looking after the feline and finding her family.

Related: Dog Who Roamed Alabama for Months with Trash Can Top Stuck on His Head Is Finally Free

A man eventually reached out to the junkyard and told them he was searching for his cat named Lilly, known for her "adventurous spirit."

The man explained that his cat had an attachment to motor vehicles and enjoyed riding in the car and on motorcycles. He even noted that the feline had her own helmet for ride-alongs.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue offered to get Lilly "vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed at no cost" before sending her home, to which the owner agreed. The pet parent and feline reunited after the procedures were complete.

Related: N.Y. Rescue Seeks Answers After Finding Cat Dumped in Tied-Up Pillowcase: 'A Heartless Act'

"... The relief and happiness was so clear on both of their faces," the organization said of the touching moment. "She melted into his arms as his eyes filled with tears of joy."

In its Facebook post about the incident, the rescue also shared a photo of the pair, in which the owner happily strokes the cat, who is snuggled in his arms.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"Lilly's dad could not be more grateful for all the love, care, and medical attention she received at Brother Wolf," Brother Wolf Animal Rescue shared. "It's only thanks to caring people like you that we could help Lilly find her way back home."

The organization ended its post by thanking people for supporting animals "no matter the wild rides they take to find their way," adding, "Together, we save lives!"

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.