Cat found dumped in a cave gets a new home

George the cat had a new life in Leek, Staffordshire, after being dumped in a cave, his owner said

A cat which was left to die after being abandoned in a cave with no food or water has been rehomed.

George was discovered inside a cat carrier at Beech Cave on Beechdale Lane in Tittensor, Staffordshire, on 14 May, the RSPCA said.

The white cat with black patches was rescued by a member of public and taken to a vets before he went to the charity's north Staffordshire branch.

George now had a new life in Leek with another cat called Harvey and was "very much loved," his new owner Rachel Yeates said.

George and Harvey were both adopted from the RSPCA's north Staffordshire branch, the charity said

"I wanted to get another cat so Harvey could have some company and a playmate," she said.

Ms Yeates, who adopted George in August, said he was a "bit nervous" but was settling in to his new home and being "spoilt rotten" after his ordeal.

"He's so pampered and gets treats. My mum adores him," she said.

The RSPCA previously appealed for information after the scared but uninjured animal was "found alone in a cat carrier in a dark cave".

The charity said it received about 21,000 calls about abandoned animals last year, a higher annual total than for any of the previous three years.

The animal was found by a member of the public at Beech Cave in Tittensor in May