TWO kittens and two cats found dumped in a litter bin has been described as an “abhorrent” and “unthinkable” act by the RSPCA.

Two six-week-old kittens and a male and a female cat were rescued by RSPCA inspectors after the animals were left in a bin on the edge of Middlesbrough’s Albert Park, off Park Vale Road.

The Northern Echo:

A Middlesbrough Council worker contacted the animal welfare charity after going to use the bin on Tuesday morning and discovering the kittens and cats.

RSPCA inspector Clare Wilson, investigating the incident, said: “To dump any animal is awful, but to abandon vulnerable and defenceless kittens is abhorrent.

“To leave them in a bin, where they could have met an unthinkable fate, is truly shocking.

“It is illegal to abandon any animal and these cats were very lucky to be found quickly and taken to safety.

“The bin is next to a steep bank stretching down to a stream and beside a busy road, and the bin is deep and was covered so these tiny kittens – who are too young to be away from their mother – could easily have come to harm.

“If this worker hadn’t spotted these young kittens, then they could have ended up being accidentally crushed to death in a bin lorry or being mistakenly taken to a refuse site.”

A six-week-old black long-hair female kitten, a six-week-old grey tabby male kitten, a 15-week-old black and white female cat, and a young, male adult tabby cat, were rescued.

The animals have since been taken in by not-for-profit group, Cat and Kitten Rescue, which rehomes cats in Teesside.

The kittens will be fostered until they are old enough to be rehomed.

Inspector Wilson added: “I’d like to hear from anyone who may recognise these cats or know who their owner was.

“Anyone with any information that could help our investigation should call our appeal line on 0300 123 8018.”