Kitten found dumped outside RSPCA animal centre

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a kitten was found dumped outside an animal centre with his toy mouse.

A member of the public reported seeing a cat carrier outside the animal charity’s Stapeley Grange Animal Centre, in Nantwich, Cheshire, on Thursday (21).

Two workers at the centre found the six-week-old kitten in a cat carrier with a blue blanket and a toy mouse inside - left just outside the premises. 

The kitten - now named Matty after The 1975 lead singer Matty Healy who hails from Cheshire and has similar hair - is now in the care of the cattery at the centre.

RSPCA animal rescuer inspector Caren Goodman James is investigating to try to trace the person responsible for dumping Matty who was found at about 8.30am.

She said: “Matty is doing well but I would like to trace the person responsible for discarding him. 

“It was lucky the weather wasn’t so bad as he could have gone unnoticed for some time and he would obviously have been frightened.

“Whoever left him there  covered the carrier with an orange blanket and there was also a toy mouse inside with him.

“One of the staff members at the cattery decided to call him Matty as she is a fan of The 1975 and wanted to name him after the lead singer Matty Healy who is from Cheshire so it is quite apt!

“Staff at Stapeley Grange cattery will now care for Matty until he is ready to find his forever home.”

The RSPCA is bracing itself for a surge in abandonments as reports of increased pet ownership during lockdown, coupled with a deepening recession has led to fears of more pets being left out in the cold this year.

Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA’s animal rescue teams, said: “During the lockdown there have been reports of a rise in  people buying or adopting new pets, often for the very first time. 

“Whilst it’s great that so many people have become pet owners and have found their pet to be a real source of comfort during these challenging times, we are concerned that some people may have bought a pet on impulse without considering how their lifestyle might change once the pandemic ends. 

“On top of that, we are facing real economic uncertainties, and, as in previous recessions, people may simply find themselves unable to afford their pet.

“The last thing we want to see is animals dumped and left out in the cold so we’d urge anyone who is struggling to care for their pets to please reach out to friends, family and charities for support instead.

“We would always urge anyone considering getting a pet to thoroughly do their research to make sure they can give them the time, money and care they need for the rest of their lives. 

“As the impact of the pandemic puts a strain on people’s finances and as many people start to return to work or some kind of normality, the fear is that we will see a surge in abandoned and neglected animals coming into our care.”

Throughout the winter months, the RSPCA expects to rescue thousands of animals from neglect, cruelty and suffering. 

Already this winter, we have received more than 82,000 calls but the calls to our rescue line are not stopping so neither will we. To help our rescue teams continue to reach the animals who desperately need us, visit www.rspca.org.uk/xmas and Join the Winter Rescue #JoinTheRescue