‘Heartless and cruel’ – Kittens dumped in a cardboard box at field near Wick

Local residents were in uproar over a Facebook post highlighting the plight of kittens dumped in a cardboard box at a field just outside Wick.

The incident came to light after a passing remark from a delivery driver on Thursday morning who said that two kittens were rescued and a person near Wick John O’Groats Airport had taken them in.

When investigated further, it turned out that there were four kittens in the box which was discovered last week in a field at the corner of Lochshell and the Sibster road, about a mile outside Wick.

The woman who took in the two rescued kittens thinks the mum may be a feral cat from a farm. She has seen a cat that may be the mother hanging around her property since she took in the kittens but it ran away when she approached it.

“When the box was opened two of them escaped into the field and they couldn’t get them back,” said the woman.

She says she will keep the kittens and is carefully monitoring their welfare at the moment.

A passing motorist had spied the box and luckily opened it to discover the kittens inside. The cats are so young that they would have been unable to fend for themselves and no doubt perished in the colder autumn weather.

One social media comment reads: “Such a heartless cruel thing to do. Sad that people like this live amongst us. No need at all. Disgusting!!!”

Another wrote: “So upsetting. I do hope there are folk looking for other kittens and maybe also mum. Neutering is essential. Charities are overwhelmed and vet fees are hard for folk to sustain.”

A Wick resident said “Cruelty like this always astounds me, why didn’t they ring Cats Protection?”

The Caithness branch of the Cats Protection charity gives out advice on feline-related matters and can be contacted via its Facebook page.

It can also be telephoned on: 0345 371 4217 or emailed at: enquiries@caithness.cats.org.uk