SOLVED: Children's Picture Book - Kitten almost crushed in a dustbin lorry. [s]

[Karen]

I remember reading a picture book sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s about a kitten/cat - abandoned? left behind when its owners moved? - and the story I presume is about its search for a home. The only bit I really remember is that the kitten had a blanket that it carried around and the blanket ended up in a dustbin lorry and the kitten was almost crushed trying to get it back. I cried my eyes out!

The story did have a happy ending - I just don't remember what the ending was!
I bought it new so it was definitely in print in the late 80s/early 90s.

If anyone can name this one in view of the flimsy nature of my memories I will be amazed. And grateful :)

[Mai]

I found this one via Google search and it sounds different but there are also some similarities:
The Patchwork Cat by William Mayne
The cat is not abandoned; the owners throw the beloved blanket (patchwork quilt) away and the cat goes in search of the blanket. The reviews mention the blanket ending up in a garbage truck.
It was published in 1981.

[Karen]

OMG! I thought I had not remembered enough for anyone to find it. Clearly my searching skills are not as good as yours Mai. Thanks for finding it for me.

Solved.

[Mai]

Awesome! Thankfully the detail about the blanket was pretty unique so that made it easier to find :-)