The unfortunate moggy was found by Darren Sumner when the vehicle broke down in Reading, Berkshire.
Mr Sumner said: "He was warm and scared so I sat and stroked him for about 30 minutes until I coaxed him out."
The RSPCA wants to reunite the cat with his owner, thought to be in Tottenham where the van started its journey.
The cat, nicknamed Sparky, was unscathed by his ordeal on 28 August.
Mr Sumner, who took the cat home overnight, said: "He used a litter tray so I think he's probably someone's pet.
"He woke me up at about 3am in the morning for a play. I hope his owners can be found."
Sparky, who is thought to be about a year old, was taken to the vet for a check up.  He was also scanned to see if he was micro-chipped - which would have revealed details of his owner -  but unfortunately no chip was found.
Helena Peace, from the RSPCA in Reading, said: "He was traumatised but physically unhurt. He's certainly used up one of his nine lives."

The visitors had slumped to 69-4 in reply to Gloucestershire's 383 all out at Cheltenham, before Cox and George Rhodes (52) shared a stand of 141.
Cox eventually nicked medium-pacer Kieran Noema-Barnett (4-31) behind and Worcestershire declared on 300-9.
The hosts batted out eight overs to close on 20-0, leading by 103.
In the morning session Gloucestershire added 40 to their overnight first-innings score of 343-8, with Jack Taylor last man out for 143.
Gloucestershire captain Phil Mustard told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Our bowling at the start of Worcestershire's innings was fantastic. There was enough in the wicket for the seamers and they used the new ball really well.
"As in our innings, after 35 overs, the ball went a bit soft and didn't do as much. That was always going to be the case, but the boys stuck to their guns and tried to hit the right areas.
"Hats off to Kieran Noema-Barnett for his four wickets. I love having a bowler like him in my team. He swings it, nips it around a bit and can tie up an end for you."
Worcestershire centurion Ben Cox told BBC Hereford & Worcester:
"It was good fun. I enjoy those situations when you go into bat with the team struggling a bit. It seems to bring out the best in me and makes me give than 10 per cent more.
"It wasn't too pretty to start with because it was one of those pitches where it was hard to get your timing in the first 30 balls or so.
"But it's a monkey off my back because it is two years since my last hundred and I have been working really hard at spending more time at the crease."

In a joint bid, Metropoulos & Co and Apollo Global Management are paying $410m (Â£275m) for the bankrupt company.
The offer had originally been planned to set the floor for an auction, which Hostess boss Greg Rayburn had predicted would be "wild and woolly".
In fact, a court filing showed that no other offers were submitted.
The deal, which also includes Suzy Q's and Cup Cakes,  is expected to be approved by a bankruptcy court on 19 March.
Hostess Brands started winding down its companies last year, after being hit by rising food prices and a bakery strike.
An auction for Hostess's bread brand, Wonder, has also been cancelled, with a view to selling it directly to Flowers Foods, which makes Tastykakes and Nature's Own bread.

Currently scratch cards and display discs are used, but Transport Minister Deputy Eddie Noel advertised for a new app-based cashless system.
He said this would eventually be rolled out to street parking as well as the island's 46 car parks.
It would run alongside the scratch cards so people without a smart phone could still pay to park.
The price of a scratch card is 76p per unit with a monthly season ticket costing Â£123.31, and Mr Noel said the new system would cost the same as scratch cards.
Mr Noel said it would give people a greater flexibility and make it easier to police as it would be likely to use number plate recognition. It should be in place by the middle of 2016.
A cat has been rescued from under the bonnet of a van after travelling about 60 miles in a space behind the heater matrix.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A career-best 124 from wicketkeeper Ben Cox helped Worcestershire recover from a precarious position on day two against Gloucestershire.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Hostess Brands is selling its cake bakery business, which includes Twinkies cakes, to two private equity companies.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A new cashless payment system will be introduced into Jersey car parks under new plans by the States.