The RSPCA is appealing for information after three newborn kittens were dumped in Paddington.
The kittens, two black and one tabby and white, were so young they couldn’t even open their eyes yet. The litter were left on a doorstep in Fordingley Road on Thursday 11 April at about 5.40pm.
RSPCA Inspector Mike Beaman, who collected the kittens, said: “There is never an excuse to abandon an animal like this and especially three young kittens who are very vulnerable and far too young to be away from their mum.
“Sadly, we see so many litters of kittens dumped like rubbish in the summer months because often owners have made a quick decision on getting a cat and can no longer cope, or the kittens have been an unplanned litter and a shock to the owner of the moggy mum.
“Kittens may look cute but the reality of caring for them can be hard work, time consuming and costly. We, and other cat and vet organisation, believe the solution to this crisis is to neuter cats from four months old before they can become pregnant and therefore avoiding these unwanted litters.”
Most kittens are typically born between April and September, which means during the ‘kitten season’ the charity ends up with large amounts of young cats coming into care.
The charity has also seen a shocking peak in abandonments over the summer period with 58% more cats being dumped in July last year compared to January.
In Greater London last year there were 2,222 abandoned cats reported to the RSPCA – which is the highest number for all countries in England and Wales.
The kittens, who have been named George, Ginny and Luna after characters in the Harry potter series, are now being cared for by a member of staff at RSPCA Harmsworth Animal Hospital in Finsbury Park.
The litter are being hand reared with feeding round-the-clock as they are too young to be away from their mum.
If anyone has any information about how these kittens came to be abandoned, please contact the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.