I just read this story on MSN..."Kitten survives wild ride in washing machine: Cat emerges dizzy after going through full cycle, including high-level spin". Apparently this person left his washer open with dirty clothes inside, then closed the door and turned it on without checking. It's a miracle the poor thing wasn't drowned.
A friend of mine actually accidentally killed her cat by not checking the dryer. It was full of clothes with the door open. She wanted to run it a few minutes to get the wrinkles out but didn't see her dear kitty sleeping inside.
I have two inside cats and I ALWAYS close the doors on my washer and dryer. I've had to shoo them out before as they jump in while I'm taking out or putting in clothes, so it can happen that quickly. They're just being nosey about what I'm doing, and you know what they say about a cat's curiosity!
So, please everyone, just be careful!