'I heard screeching': Woman's warning after finding her cat inside a running washing machine

It's an underlying household hazard that every pet owner fears – and for one woman, this nondescript chore soon became a race against the clock to save her furry friend.

The trouble began when cat owner Lexi Carper loaded her washing machine, just as she would on any other day.

However, all did not go as planned.

Watch the video above.

Following a shocking laundry room mishap involving her beloved feline companion, Carper has now issued an urgent plea to other owners.

In what she later described as her "absolute worst nightmare," the shaken owner recounted the incident where her cat – who had fallen asleep nestled in her washing machine – was trapped inside during its wash cycle.

Carper took to social media to share the ordeal – with her freshly-rescued, sopping wet and shaken cat clutched in her arms.

The owner explained that she had been going about her usual routine, while unbeknownst to her, her cat had found the machine's cylinder to be the perfect spot for a nap.

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"I didn't even look," she admitted. "I just pushed the clothes in and started the cycle."

It wasn't until a few minutes later that she heard what she described as "intense" screeching coming from the laundry room.

"I went to start a load in the washing machine, and apparently she likes to sleep in there," she said.

"So I go over, and I put the detergent in, start the washing machine, shut the door, walk away, and 30, 40 seconds later I start hearing the most intense howling and screeching and screaming from my cat I've ever heard."

"I've never heard those noises come out of a cat in my whole life," she added. "I'm literally shaking."

Racing to the machine, she was met with an unthinkable sight.

Through the glass door, she saw her furry friend being tossed amongst the soaking wet clothes as the water filled and the drum began to spin.

"The panic that sets in is like nothing else. Your brain just freezes while you're trying to figure out how to stop the machine and get the door open," Carper said.

Modern front-loaders often feature safety locks that stay engaged even after the power is cut – making the ensuing rescue mission even more frantic.

Fortunately, Carper was able to bypass the lock and rescue her sodden, terrified pet from a sudsy death sentence.

Much to her (and all of Tiktok's) relief, the cat survived the unfortunate ordeal.

Taking to the comments, a number of concerned followers implored the owner to take her to the vet immediately, to ensure no serious internal damage was done.

But after a frantic trip to the emergency vet clinic to check for "dry drowning" (where water enters the lungs) and internal bruising, the feline was thankfully given the all-clear.

Carper says she wanted to share this story not for sympathy, but as a stark warning to others.

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"We get so comfortable in our routines that we stop checking the small things," she said.

"Now, I check the drum, I check the pile, and I check the cat before I even touch the 'start' button."

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