The RSPCA is investigating after a mother cat and her four sick kittens were abandoned in a cardboard box outside a home in West Drayton, Hillingdon.
The homeowner called the animal welfare charity after discovering the cat and kittens outside her property on Laurel Lane at around 10:30am on 7 July.
The family were taken to a vet, but sadly the kittens were very poorly with cat flu and a heavy flea infestation, and the vet made the sad decision to euthanise them on welfare grounds.
The mother cat had fleas but was otherwise healthy. Following treatment, she is now in the care of the RSPCA North West London and South Hertfordshire Branch, where staff have named her Penny. She is now available for rehoming and is described by staff as being very affectionate.
The rescue comes after the charity launched its Cruelty Hurts Love Rescues fundraising campaign earlier this month, which coincides with the charity’s busiest time as cruelty reports peak over summer.
Newly published figures show that during June, July and August last year, the RSPCA received 6,322 cruelty reports to its emergency line – equivalent to one call every 10 minutes while the line was open. This compares with 3,852 calls during the same period in 2021, a 64% increase in just five years.
Inspector Mike Beaman is investigating this incident for the RSPCA. He said: “The kittens had their eyes half closed, and some had discharge around their eyes. Sadly they were too weak to recover from the cat flu and heavy flea burden and all four were euthanised by a vet. It’s very sad they didn’t make it, but hopefully their mum can now find a loving home.”
He added: “We typically see an influx of kittens and more calls about abandoned cats during kitten season – at this time of year – and with the cost of living putting an extra squeeze on people’s finances, we’re braced for a tough year at a time when our rescue centres are already full to bursting.
“Alarming new figures show that we are seeing rising reports of cruelty year after year. The summer months are our busiest time of year and our frontline rescue teams, specialist vets, behaviourists, rehabilitation and rehoming teams, will be working tirelessly to help as many animals as possible.
“That is why we have launched our Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues campaign to highlight this shocking trend and the work we are doing to save so many animals from horrific abuse and suffering.”
The charity continues to urge people to neuter their pets from an appropriate age to help deal with the numbers of unwanted pets.
“Cat owners who neuter their cats from four months of age will help to tackle this surge in unwanted pets.
“Kittens can become pregnant themselves as early as four months which is why booking an appointment with a vet for early neutering is so important.
“The reality of caring for an unexpected litter of kittens is often costly and stressful and sees some owners cruelly dumping kittens on the roadside, in bins, or cardboard boxes – leaving the RSPCA to pick up the pieces.”
Anyone with information about this incident should call the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference 01847824.