A statement released by Middletown police on Saturday:

On the afternoon of Saturday April 25, a motorist reported observing that a cat had been straddling the concrete median divider in the middle of State Highway 36 for some period of time, and appeared to be clinging on for its life.

Officer Nicholas Fenezia responded to the area and located a very frightened gray tiger striped cat perched on top of the concrete barrier with cars speeding past in both directions.

With the assistance of other officers, police stopped traffic on Highway 36 in the area of Thompson Avenue in Leonardo and attempted to retrieve the cat.

As officers began to approach, the cat leaped from the barrier and ran towards the shoulder of the highway, disappearing under Officer Fenezia’s police car.

Uncertain of the cat’s whereabouts, officers checked beneath the patrol car and realized that the panic stricken cat had climbed and buried itself somewhere in the recesses of the undercarriage.

Rather than risk injuring the cat, the officers turned the police car off and called a tow truck and animal control to the scene. Several lanes of the highway remained closed for the next hour while police and an animal control officer attempted to recover the cat.

With the assistance of the tow truck, the rescuers were eventually able to free the cat which fortunately was completely unharmed during this whole event.

We would like to recognize the efforts of Officer Nicholas Fenezia, Officer Christopher Menendez, Sergeant Gerald Weimer, Animal Control Officer Kerry Gowan and Tow Truck Mechanic Tom Meagher of AM/PM Towing, as well as the concerned citizen who reported this incident and congratulate them all on a job well done.

The compassion and concern demonstrated by everyone involved in this animal rescue was truly commendable.

Mahatma Gandhi once said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

The cat did not have a pet micro-chip and was not wearing any identifying collar or tags at the time.

Authorities have been unable to locate an owner, and placed the cat with the Humane Society.

The cat is described as being a gray tiger striped cat between approximately 9 and 12 months old.

The owner can retrieve the lost cat by contacting the Middletown Health department at 732-615-2095.