Mum’s the word: Foster carer takes on maternal role for Battersea kittens dumped in a cardboard box

This Mother’s Day (11 March), a litter of newborn kittens abandoned in a cardboard box are celebrating the dedicated foster carers at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

For animals like these, having a foster carer means so much more than having a temporary home – it can mean the difference between life and death.

The four-day-old kittens were left outside in a cardboard box in mid-February as temperatures began to drop in London. The three tiny cats were so young that their eyes hadn’t even opened yet and there was no sign of their mother.

A local animal rescue centre took them in, but didn’t have the resources to give the helpless kittens the constant care they needed, so they called in Battersea to help.

The abandoned litter – one girl and two boys, affectionately named Miss Honey (from Matilda), Von Trapp (after Maria from The Sound of Music) and Poppins (after Mary) – are now being hand-reared by a member of Battersea staff who volunteered to be their foster mum. Hand-rearing kittens is a very tiring but rewarding role as kittens need to be bottle-fed every two hours to begin with – including through the night. They also need to check that the kittens are toileting properly, essentially doing the job the mother cat would be doing.

JoAnna Puzzo, Cattery Team Leader at Battersea, said: “We believe someone’s pet had given birth to a litter of kittens and the owners just didn’t know what to do with them. It was incredibly risky to take them away from their mother and leave them on their own overnight –  they’re so vulnerable and helpless at this stage.

“At Battersea we would always advise to book an appointment to bring any animal in. We would never judge and it’s much better for the pet so that we can get as much background information as possible. We also strongly advise getting your cat neutered to avoid any unwanted litters in the future.

“Luckily, these baby kittens have now found a new temporary mummy – probably not one they were expecting, but a mum all the same, giving them their basic needs and lots of love. We’re all so grateful for the tireless care of our foster carers.”

Fortunately these kittens have all got loving new homes lined up once they’re ready to go, but Battersea has many more cats looking for their cat mums (and dads), for more information, please visit www.battersea.org.uk

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