Stowaway kitten finds new home

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. (AP) -- Mercedes the traveling kitten's days on the road are over. The 9-week-old kitten who rode unharmed for 220 miles while crouched under the hood of a car was adopted Wednesday by an Ohio man who saw a television news report of her exploits. "She was just so adorable. When you saw that on TV, you couldn't turn your back," said John Walkup of Brilliant, Ohio. Mercedes had been at the Hancock County Animal Shelter in New Cumberland since July 25, when the blue-eyed tabby rode from Chambersburg, Pa., to Chester behind the grill of a Mercedes, just 3 inches from the engine's fan. Jim Albert, the car's owner, had driven to Chester to visit a friend who wanted to see the engine. When the friend opened the hood, he saw the kitten. Albert took the kitten to the animal shelter because he could not take her on a business trip. He told shelter workers he would return and get the kitten if no one adopted her by Thursday. Walkup said his family has one cat and had discussed getting another. "She seemed to be a courageous kitty," said Walkup, news director for radio station WEIR in Weirton. Shelter workers named the kitten Mercedes, and Walkup said he would not rename her. "She obviously earned her name," he said.