A kitten from Kew used up nearly all of her nine lives after she got stuck in a tumble dryer for half an hour ... and survived.

It is thought the inquisitive nine month old kitten crept in among the washing while her owner's back was turned as she looked for somewhere snug and warm to curl up.

Her unsuspecting owner Sarah Trickner then switched the machine on not realising their beloved pet was inside spinning around and around in the heat.

Mrs Trickner, who lives in Kew, said of last Friday's incident: "It was just awful. I was calling her for her breakfast and thought she had been locked in the laundry room.

"Then I got this awful smell of poo. I opened the machine to see Midnight covered in bodily fluids.

"She was hyperventilating, hot and limp. I pulled her out on a the coat that was inside and laid her on the floor while I rang the vet."

Midnight was immediately rushed to Kitten to Cat Vetinary Clinic, in Sandycombe Road, Kew, suffering from trauma, shock and dehydration and had to be treated with oxygen, intravenous fluids and pain relief.

Following a night in intensive care she was allowed to return home to her relieved owner.

Vet Zeta Frasca said Midnight was lucky only to be left with a broken canine, bruising on the lung and a dislocated vertebrae.

"Cats like to explore dark places and can easily slip in to a laundry room behind you," she said. "It is actually quite a problem for inquisitive kittens. If a load has just finished and its nice and warm it can be very inviting. And if you are cleaning and washing it can be very easy to throw a load on top of a sleeping kitten."

She said it was lucky the Hotpoint machine was on a relatively cool cycle or Midnight may not have lived.

"When she came in to out clinic she could walk but wanted to lay on her side and pant," she said. "She had a very elevated temperature. The main thing was to help her get over the shock as this alone can kill a cat. It's not very common to treat a cat who has been in a dryer - let alone one who has gone on to survive. Midnight really is a walking miracle."