Abandoned cat found hiding under van for 10 hours

A cat welfare charity has urged owners who are struggling with finances to contact them for support instead of abandoning cats on their doorstep.

It comes after Cats Protection posted a CCTV video on Instagram of a cat being left on the doorstep of its north-west London hub earlier this year. The cat later hid in the bumper of a van for more than 10 hours.

Once the cat, named Electra after the electric van she hid under, was enticed out of hiding, the team discovered she was pregnant with four kittens and soon to give birth.

She was placed into the care of a fosterer who gave her the care she needed and her kittens were delivered safely. Cats Protection said she was "one of the lucky ones".

Cats Protection said it had seen a 34% increase in abandonments this year.

The charity says it understands difficult and desperate situations can lead people to abandon their cats but it is urging all owners who are struggling to contact them for help and advice.

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