Kitten dumped with siblings 'finds forever home'

A six-week-old kitten, weighing less than 500g (18oz) and with an ulcerated eye, was found dumped in a cardboard box with her mother and five siblings.

Strawberry was taken to the Berkshire Cat Centre in Newbury after being discovered by a roadside in Reading.

The feline has since been nursed back to health and adopted by new owners.

It has prompted a plea from the Cats Protection charity for cat owners not to abandon their pets.

The charity said one in nine of the cats it had taken into care in Newbury this year had been abandoned.

Cat Protection's senior rehoming and welfare assistant, Claire Lindley, said there was a "loving new home out there" for every abandoned cat.

The cat welfare charity said such cases were up by a third so far this year.

Ms Lindley said the charity would give advice and support to help cats and their owners "continue their journey together".

“We know tough times can lead to heart breaking decisions, but abandoning your cat should never be one, as it puts cats in danger," she added.

Strawberry was the smallest in the litter of kittens who were found by a member of the public.

She was treated with antibiotics for a "painful" ulcer in her eye as well as being given a special diet to help her gain weight.

The charity said the mog also had a so-called fever coat - an unusual smokey tint to the fur with the tips being a lighter silver colour.

It is thought to occur when a kitten’s mother is in poor health while pregnant but does not affect its long-term health.

Berkshire Cat Centre said that despite her tough start, Strawberry was a "playful and affectionate girl" who was soon adopted once she was fully recovered, and was now "enjoying her forever home".

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