German tourists Anna Scheffler and Svenja Dabbert were in for a surprise when they opened the bonnet of their rental car after making the long journey from Dublin to Cork.

Hidden in the car's engine was a kitten barely a few weeks old. Unbeknownst to the visitors, the stowaway had travelled 257km in their company, crossing some six counties before eventually reaching Douglas, Co Cork.

The cat made some noises during the journey but the tourists never guessed they had a kitten in their midst.

“We took off from Dublin (and) we heard some noise but (didn’t) think it was a cat,” Ms Dabbert said later.

“At one stop we heard it again but couldn’t still believe that this could be a cat.” The unassuming pair continued on their journey and eventually reached Douglas, Co Cork.

The following morning, suspicions aroused, they opened the car and saw the kitten standing there.

At first she wasn’t very co-operative but Ms Scheffler eventually managed to remove her from the vehicle.

“She’s ok, she’s a little bit frightened I guess and a little bit hungry,” Ms Dabbert said.

The cat has been christened Maude after the owner of the bed and breakfast where the travelling pair are staying and is expected to make a full recovery.