FOUR tiny kittens have been abandoned in a shopping bag next to a canal in Bridgwater.

The month old kittens, who have been named Bellamy, Murphy, Monty and Octavia, were found by a passer-by who spotted them tied in a bag that had been dumped behind Morrisons supermarket near the canal path and pond off Taunton Road in Bridgwater at around 8pm on Monday, May 22.

RSPCA inspector John Pollock said: “Dumping these kittens in such a thoughtless and irresponsible way put their lives at risk. Thankfully they were found in time and are now being given the care they deserve.

“We understand that sometimes people can face unexpected difficulties in life  but there are organisations like ourselves out there that can help when times get tough. There is no excuse to dump any animal in this way. 

“People need to be aware that not only are incidents such as this cruel and callous but they are also a criminal offence. 

“If anyone thinks they may have seen anything suspicious in the area or if they know where these cats have come from please contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.”

The kittens are currently being cared for by the team at RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton and are being taken home each night by a member of staff as they are still struggling to eat.
 
RSPCA cat welfare expert Alice Potter said: “Around this time of year, we often see a lot of abandoned kittens as a result of unwanted litters from cats who have not been neutered. 

“Some cat owners may believe that cats should be allowed to have a litter of kittens before they are neutered - this isn’t true, in fact it's just an old wives tale. There is no need for a cat to have a litter of kittens before she’s spayed. The sooner she is spayed, the sooner she can enjoy doing all the things cats like to do - such as going out and climbing trees.

“The RSPCA is urging loving owners to get their cats spayed to protect them from getting pregnant. It can also help protect them from developing potentially deadly diseases of the ovaries and uterus. 

“Male cats that haven’t been neutered are also more likely to roam and fight, putting them at risk of injury, infected wounds and contracting diseases, including FIV - the feline equivalent of HIV.” 

Alice continued: “The romance and the reality of having a litter of kittens are two very different things - with around 68 per cent of litters of kittens being unplanned - that’s a lot of people in for a much bigger surprise than they bargained for.

“The RSPCA advises having cats spayed at four months - before they are free to venture outdoors unsupervised and start to attract the attention of Tom cats. This would help to alleviate the cat overpopulation crisis.”