Kittens dumped in cardboard box prompts charity to say ‘Get your cats neutered!’

These five kittens were abandoned in a cardboard box outside Asda in Hemel Hempstead

The five furry bundles were found in Asda car park on Hillfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, yesterday evening and volunteers from the Hemel and Berkhamsted branch of the Cats Protection were called to collect them.

The vulnerable kittens are one female of six-weeks-old and a futher two girls and two boys, all four of which are two-weeks old.

At this stage, Cats Protection volunteers believe their mother may have been dumped with them but may have escaped from the box.

Volunteer Amanda Broome said: “It’s just unbelievable how people can do this. If they had called us, we would have taken them in and we would have mum too.

“We’re having to hand-rear them and help them go to the toilet – things which mum would be doing if she were here.

“She must be distraught, wherever she is.

“It’s just so sad. I don’t know why they didn’t just call us. We’re full to bursting but we would have taken them.”

Asda staff are keeping an eye out for the nursing female and have put food down, but Cats Protection is urging people living in the surrounding area to keep their eyes peeled and call them if they have any information.

This litter comes just weeks after three young kittens were found in a scrapyard in Kings Langley, prompting the charity – which is already full to bursting with stray and unwanted cats – to remind pet owners to do the responsible thing and have their animals neutered.

Amanda said: “We offer neutering vouchers to people who are on low incomes, so there is no excuse. Please call us if you need help.”

Amanda, who lives in Adeyfield, said the kittens would have almost certainly died overnight had they not been found before darkness fell.

They are now being cared for by another Cats Protection volunteer, who is having to feed them every three-to-four hours including through the night.

The charity is calling on cat-lovers to donate cash, blankets and kitten food to give the furry five-some the best chance of survival.

One tin of kitten milk costs £10, and volunteers say they will need quite a few to get them through the next few weeks.

Amanda has set up a Go Fund Me page here for anyone who wants to donate money to help the kittens.

If you are interested in adopting one of the kittens once they are old enough, email [email protected]

To ask about neutering vouchers, call Ali on 01442 251536.