An elderly couple stated they are furious that three kittens were dumped on their doorstep.
Ian and Frances Blackaby, from Hoddesdon, were “absolutely astounded” when they found the basket at their front door when they answered their doorbell on Saturday night (November 14).
This particular couple has spent the better part of 30 years rescuing feral cats and fundraising for the charity Cats Protection, but this is the very first time kittens have been dumped at their house.
Mr Blackaby, who is now 73, said: “I went to the door straightaway, and found on the doorstep a wicker picnic basket.”
“This is not unusual, as people often leave unwanted articles for us to sell for the charities.
“I jokingly called to my wife, ‘I reckon we’ve got us a kitten.”
“Imagine my surprise when I looked inside, to see not a kitten but three, two black and one grey.”
Mr and Mrs Blackaby believe the kittens are approximately 6 weeks old.
“We are totally unprepared for a family of kittens,” Mr Blackaby said.
“At this early age, they should never be taken away from their mother, and need feeding with suitable easily digestible food every three or four hours.”
Mrs Blackaby, 69, said: “We’ve had a terrible job getting them to very at anything.
“It’s made us very angry.”
“Everybody knows female cats have to be neutered, there can be no excuse.”
Of course, the identity of the person who dumped the kitten remains a mystery.
The Blackabys think it might be someone who has attended one of their garage sales in aid of Cats Protection in the past and knew they had a weakness for cats.
Mr Blackaby added: “This person who left these animals is totally inconsiderate of their welfare and of us for their actions, it would have been helpful if a note had been left in the basket letting us know the age and background of the litter, even if it was anonymous.”
Now that all is said and done, the kittens are now being cared for by Sad Cats in Ware.
Mr Blackaby said: “There are plenty of animal charities who will willingly advise on this and other well-being for your pet, and may even be able to help with the vet’s fee.”
“We sincerely hope that the owner of the kittens’ mother will have her neutered as soon as possible before another unwanted litter is on the way, we do not appreciate being dumped-on.”
We here at The Best Cat Page hope the best for all of them!
