A volunteer for a Lancaster and Morecambe cat rescue charity says everything possible is being done to help nine neglected kittens that were found at a roadside.
Fay Gregory of Lancaster and Morecambe Cat Rescue spoke out after the nine and 11 week old babies were taken to the Pets at Home shop on the Sunnycliffe Retail Park at Heaton with Oxcliffe.
Fay said the charity was told by Pets at Home that a member of the public had brought the kittens to the shop in a carrier bag after they were found by the side of a road.
She said they were "in a bad way, full of fleas, worms, ear mites and all had cat flu" and "their fur was so matted they've had to be shaven".
The charity has received an outpouring of messages of support and donations to help the kittens since Fay posted about their plight on Friday.
Fay has fostered three of the kittens with the others being looked after by other foster carers.
"It's an awful situation," she told Beyond Radio.
"We are caring for them and cleaning them up. Two of mine are going back to the vets, they are really not well.
"They have not been cared for. It's complete and total neglect.
One of the abandoned kittens. Photo: Fay Gregory
"This is the first time I've come across a case like this. We will do our absolute best to get them well again."
In her post on the Lancaster and Morecambe Cat Rescue page, Fay said: "Thankfully, the staff at Pets at Home called Lancaster & Morecambe Cat Rescue and we stepped in to help.
"There have been a huge amount of phone calls between the vets, fosterers and Eileen (from Lancaster and Morecambe Cat Rescue) organising fosterers to care for them and get them healthy.
"Myself and two other lovely ladies have taken three kittens each and are going to do everything in our power to get them well again.
"My kittens have had to be partially shaved because, due to the stress of being dumped, had pooped and they were covered in it!
"My mind boggles at the irresponsibility of people who get kittens and let this happen!
"Please, please, please don't get a kitten unless you're prepared to get them neutered.
"All too often Eileen and the team (at the charity) pick up the pieces of people who don't care enough to do the right thing.
"As a result, we have these nine poorly kittens plus two others today that have been taken in and are in desperate need of kitten food and gravel cat litter."
This picture shows matted fur from one of the abandoned kittens
In an update on Saturday, Fay posted: "I just wanted to say the biggest thank you to every single one of you who has commented, supported and taken kitten food either to me or the shop.
"Me and the other fosterers who have the nine are all busy taking care of them and medicating them and just loving them while monitoring their progress."
In an appeal to the people who abandoned the kittens, she said: "You obviously have mum cats who may be pregnant or ill like the kittens. Please please get in touch and let us, Lancaster and Morecambe Cat Rescue, help you.
"We, as a charity aren't here to judge your personal circumstances nor will we be disrespectful to you if you ring the number at the top of the page.
"Get in touch, let us help and you can easily stop the cycle of your mum cats having unwanted kittens."
Fay has said that the kittens will not be ready for adoption for some time, and has asked people interested in providing a forever home for the kittens to keep an eye on Lancaster and Morecambe Cat Rescue social media for updates.
"Hopefully they will all survive...we are going to do our damnedest to make that happen," she said.
Fay also appealed to anyone thinking of dumping unwanted cats or kittens to contact the charity first for support.
"We can signpost people to various agencies that can help," she said.
"This sort of situation does not need to happen. If you're struggling with your cat please reach out."
You can find out more about Lancaster and Morecambe Cat Rescue HERE.
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