A dog walker in Brockley made a distressing discovery when they stumbled upon a box containing three tiny kittens which had been abandoned.

Concerned for the welfare of the cats which they found on Bircham Path on June 11, the dog walker immediately contacted the RSPCA for help.

Animal rescue officer, Mat Hawkins, responded to the call and collected the kittens.

The kittens, all female, were only approximately eight-weeks-old.

The person who found them had placed a towel in the box to keep them warm, but there was no note or any indication of where they had come from.

Mat said: “We’re very grateful that someone found them and called us. They are only around eight-weeks-old, so they wouldn’t have survived very long without help.

“They were alert but sneezing and their eyes were puffy from cat flu. They’ve already made an incredible recovery."

He noted that without the intervention, the kittens would not have survived for much longer.

The kittens, named Caz, Dolly, and Poppy, were immediately transported to Finsbury Park Animal Hospital, where they will receive the necessary care until they are healthy enough to be rehomed.

Mat expressed concern and sadness regarding the circumstances in which the kittens were found.

He condemned the act of abandoning animals and mentioned that dumping animals is never an acceptable solution, even in challenging times.

Mat said: “We’re glad these kittens are now safe, but it’s really sad that someone would just dump them in this way.

“They were lucky to have survived the ordeal. We know times are tough for many but dumping animals is never the answer.”

Mat urged individuals experiencing difficulties to seek support from reputable animal welfare charities.

Resources and advice can be found on the RSPCA's website.

In light of this incident, the RSPCA also emphasized the importance of neutering cats at the earliest opportunity to prevent unwanted litters and promote the overall health and wellbeing of the cat.

Anyone with information related to the abandonment of the kittens is urged to contact the RSPCA's inspectorate appeal line, where they can provide information in confidence.