Dumped kittens were left to die - rescuers

Three kittens and their mother were left dumped in a hard-to-reach location by someone "knowing they would die", staff at a cat rescue centre have said.

The animals were accidentally discovered on Sunday, still alive, on Suffield Hill, near Scarborough, by two litter-pickers after they heard noises coming from a plastic cat carrier box down a steep bank.

Libby Gerhardsen, 66, one of the litter-picking pair, said the kittens were "obviously in distress" and she was "just delighted" to have been able to help.

Tina Lewis, who took the cats to safety at Filey Cat Rescue, said it was one of the worst cases she had seen, adding that it was "almost a miracle" the kittens and their mum had been found.

Mrs Gerhardsen explained that due to a large amount of plastic bottles and cans in the area, she and Karl Gerhardsen, also 66, had been walking closely together on their search for litter when they were alerted to the cats' presence nearby.

"They must have heard us talking because we were suddenly aware there was this miaowing from over the fence," Mrs Gerhardsen said.

"Karl, being taller than me, could see a cat box. Then we could see the kittens climbing over each other at the front end of the cat box because they could hear us."

"We're not particularly cat people, but we are animal lovers," she added.

Mrs Gerhardsen explained that it had been too difficult to reach the kittens, so the couple decided to hang a blue plastic bag around a nearby tree, making it easy for rescuers to find them later on.

They then alerted staff at Filey Cat Rescue, who immediately brought the animals to safety, providing them with a bath, food and veterinary care.

Tina Lewis, who runs the rescue centre with her husband, said the cats had clearly been intentionally left "in the middle of nowhere".

"Because of the barbed wire and the fencing there, it was quite obvious they had been thrown from the top of that road," Ms Lewis said.

"That is awful because they have actually been left in a place where it was almost a miracle the litter-pickers just happened to be there.

"In my opinion, whoever left them there left them knowing they would die."

Ms Lewis said the kittens, who were believed to be between nine and 10 weeks old, and their mother were all doing well.

She said she hoped the felines could soon be moved to a temporary foster home where they could "relax" and "have more space".

"They have been offered homes already, but these are obviously to be checked," Ms Lewis said

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