Abandoned Christmas kittens are 'miracle'

Three kittens found abandoned on Christmas Eve have been described as "Christmas' miracles" by the charity now caring for them.

A member of the public found a tabby female and two black male kittens filthy, hungry and abandoned in a plastic bag while out walking his dog in Totton.

He contacted the charity Cats Protection, who are caring for the kittens in Southampton.

The charity said the trio had been called Holly, Sprout and Tinsel in homage to their festive finding.

Mel Gunn, who runs Cats Protection Totton, said: "A gentleman rang us as soon as we opened to say he'd found three kittens dumped in a plastic carrier while he was out walking his dog."

"When he arrived he was quite upset and shaken and said he found the carrier covered in a soaking wet towel," she said.

"We held them [the kittens] close to help them warm up then cleared out our donation bin to keep them safe."

Ms Gunn got in touch with the charity's larger Southampton branch, where the cats were placed in foster care.

Southampton co-ordinator Carolyne Kemp said: "The kittens were extremely lucky to be found - we think they are only about six weeks old, too young to be away from their mother, who should be caring for them until they are eight weeks old at least."

"These kittens would certainly have died if they hadn't been found when they were," she said.

She added that the "quick-thinking and kindness" of the dog walker meant the the kittens were "truly a Christmas miracle".

The kittens will be available for adoption once they are old enough, and their details will be posted on Cats Protection Southampton's website.

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