An old friend, back when I was 17/18 or so, told me about the last time she had a kitten.
The kitten somehow got into the WASHER and her busy and absent-minded mother didn’t realize it until the kitten had already drowned. Her mother drove herself (and the kitten) to the police department because she felt so bad.
After that I have always checked for cats. Even now, at almost 40 (I even check the oven)! My husband thinks it’s over-kill, but I’m never gonna get that horror story out of my head