Family of pets is put out with the rubbish

MIRACLE on Rhodes Bank . . . animal care assistant Roxanne Greenwood with the abandoned family

THESE cute kittens and their mum used up four of their 36 lives in a Christmas miracle.

The trio of 12-week-old youngsters were dumped in a sealed cardboard box beside rubbish at the RSPCA shelter in Rhodes Bank

Their 18-month-old mother was also found near by in a second box — just hours after the binmen had been.

She has been christened Holly by staff while her kittens have also been named Noel, Rudolph and Prancer in honour of the lucky festive escape

RSPCA driver Glen Tough made the heartbreaking discovery on Monday.

Branch manager Mandy Tierney said: “I dread to think what could have happened.

“He was moving stuff into the bin when he picked up a box that was a bit wet. It felt a bit strange, a bit lopsided. He opened it and there was the mother cat. The kittens were in the next box.

“They had completely sealed the boxes, they were completely taped up. If the bin men had come I think they would have just taken them, I do not think they would have realised.

“What’s sad is nobody came in to ask us if we would take them. They just left them in between two bags of rubbish.”

Mandy believes the family were there for around two hours.

They are recovering well from their ordeal and she added: “They were a bit spooked but we have fed them up and given them chicken. They will be fine.”


Children attack injured cat

RSPCA staff are also appealing for the owner of a black cat attacked by children in Fitton Hill to come forward.

A man rescued the not-so-lucky moggy, who has part of a back leg missing, from the sickening yobs who were kicking him.

The adult tom, nicknamed Robbie, is aged under four and Mandy said: “It looks like an old injury.

“I believe he must be owned by someone because he has a mark where a collar has been.