A dog walker who found the seven cats and six kittens contacted a rescue organisation and the miracle moggies were taken to Chantry Vets’ Veterinary Hospital in Brindley Way, Wakefield.
Chantry Vets found space in its cattery to care for the frightened felines, which were all given health checks and flea and worm treatment and neutered, and the practice joined forces with rescue organisation Henry’s Haven to find temporary foster carers until permanent loving homes could be found.
Chantry Vets Practice Director Victoria Lee said if the cats and kittens had been found any later, they may not have survived.
Victoria said: “It’s a really shocking case. If the cats hadn’t been found by a passer-by they would have suffered heat exhaustion because it was a very hot day and they probably would have died. All of them were packed tightly into three carriers and left without water.
“It was a really traumatic experience for them and some of them were absolutely petrified.
“We have strays brought in all the time, but we’ve never had 13 abandoned cats and kittens in one go. It was stressful for the team involved as it isn’t nice to think about what would have happened to them if they hadn’t been found.”
Debbie Newsome, who has run volunteer rescue and foster organisation Henry’s Haven for seven years, said this was one of the worst abandonment cases they have seen.
Debbie said: “We often have to find foster homes for abandoned cats living outdoors, but we don’t usually have 13 cats needing care, so it was an emergency situation.
“Chantry Vets was amazing taking them all in and I don’t know what we would have done without their help. We regularly work alongside the practice, and they are so supportive to us.”
*The abandoned cats and kittens have already found new homes.*