THEY were just hours from being taken away with the rubbish.
Dumped in a box next to a wheelie bin, the odds were stacked against these three kittens.
But after their cries were heard by a member of the public, three-week-old Barbara, Beryl and Basil were saved and are now in the care of the RSPCA.
Their mother, Betty, was found close to the box in Boothferry Road, west Hull.
The bins were due to be collected the day after the cats were discovered.
Inspector Hannah Bryer said: "These kittens were lucky to be found before the bins were collected the following day.
"Abandoning animals in circumstances like this shows a complete disregard for their future welfare.
"Pet ownership is fulfilling in many ways but with ownership comes responsibility.
"It is simply not good enough to regard animals as a throwaway commodity."
The RSPCA has begun an investigation and, if the owner of the cats is found, they could be prosecuted.
Miss Bryer said: "The kittens were found in a cardboard box by a member of public who was putting their bins out.
"The box was next to the bins and it was collection day the next day. Inside the box were three kittens, which were very young and needed to be with their mother.
"They called the RSPCA and I went to collect them shortly afterwards. I noticed a tortoiseshell-and-white female cat in the area, who was calling out. It was obvious this cat was the mother.
"I put the kittens closer to her and she began to mother them. They were all taken to Hull RSPCA, where they are being cared for while an investigation is ongoing. They will be rehomed when the kittens are old enough.
"Due to the mother cat being in the area, we think the owner either lives locally or dumped her at the same time as the kittens."
Beryl, Barbara and Basil are now making good progress at the city's branch of the RSPCA in Clough Road.
Sarah Clarkin, of the branch, said: "They are doing really, really well now. The mother is with them and they are feeding from her."
The day after the three kittens were discovered, five more were found dumped in a box in a park in east Hull.
The charity says it has having to take in an increasing number of kittens
Miss Bryer said: "The RSPCA is constantly battling to find space for abandoned, neglected and unwanted cats but there is not enough room for them all.
"The RSPCA, other animal charities and some vets, offer financial assistance for neutering of cats to prevent unwanted litters, but year after year we still see far too many cases of animals abandoned on the streets."
Anyone with information about the kittens or their owner is asked to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 and leave a message for Inspector Bryer.
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