A group of 15 tiny kittens is currently in the care of the U.K.’s leading feline welfare charity after being found inside a suitcase Saturday morning.
It’s believed that whoever dumped the kittens in the suitcase meant for them to be found and rescued. There were small air holes poked in the suitcase so they wouldn’t suffocate. Plus the suitcase was left on the side of the road near the home of a well-known veterinary nurse, who found them on her way to work in Dagenham, Essex.
The three to five-week-old kittens, believed to have come from up to four separate litters, were taken to first to Vets4Pets in Dagenham. They were treated and released into the care of Cats Protection’s Hornchurch and District Branch where they’ll be hand-reared by the staff at the rescue center before being adopted. Homes have already been found for them once they’re old enough.
Alison Gambles, an officer with Welfare & Homing stated that six of the kittens had obvious cases of eye infection and will need close monitoring. She went on to add
“Although we have already got owners lined up for them, we will need to care for them until they are old enough to be homed. What’s more of a challenge is that many people find kittens a lot more desirable, so the many young adult cats we have in our care will now wait longer to find a new home.”
Cats Protection is appealing for the owner to get in touch with them to prevent future unwanted litters. Vets4Pets is also pleading with all cat owners to have both male and female cats and kittens neutered.
Formed in 2001 when a group of local cat lovers felt they couldn’t sit by and leave unwanted and injured cats and kittens to fend for themselves any longer, Cats Protection is a network of unpaid volunteers, many with full-time jobs, who give of their time to help local cats in need.
Their mission is to ensure every cat is given the chance of a life where it will be treated with kindness and understanding. No healthy cat is ever put to sleep and every effort is made to save the ones who come to them sick or injured.
Click here for ways to support Cats Protection and be sure to follow them on Facebook.