This kitten survived a two-hour drive in a truck engine

One very adventurous kitten has captured the hearts of staff at a car dealership in Calgary.

It all began when Eco — a tiny orange cat — crawled into a truck engine on Tuesday, likely to stay warm.

But then something happened that Eco did not expect. Trapped inside the engine, Eco was brought along on a two-hour trip as the truck travelled from Picture Butte, a town just north of Lethbridge, to a Calgary dealership.

Remarkably, Eco survived.

Staff at South Trail Chrysler heard the little cat meow once the truck arrived for service.

When they looked under the truck's hood, they found a small kitten which looked to be only a few months old.

The truck owner, who lives in a rural area, told staff it was a wild farm cat that might have been using the engine bay to stay warm.

Nick Anderson, who works at the dealership, said the cat had singed whiskers but otherwise seemed uninjured.

"He was quite scared and was hissing and timid at first … within a couple minutes [the cat] was cuddling and warm and you know, enjoying all the love," Anderson said.

"He managed to survive any fans or belts or falling through for that matter."

The kitten was named after the EcoDiesel engine in the truck it was found in, Anderson said.

After a visit to the vet on Wednesday, the cat will go home to its new adoptive family.

Anderson said the cat's tale serves as a reminder to people to check under their engines before starting their vehicles, in case a small critter attempts to take refuge in it during the cold winter months.