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A kitten was found dead inside a cardboard box in a woodland area.
The tiny feline was discovered by a dog walker at around 9pm on Monday near Ashenbank Wood by Cobham Hall, Gravesend.
Warning: Pictures may be distressing
At first glance the passer-by thought the pile was fly-tipped rubbish but on closer inspection uncovered the dead female kitten surrounded by litter and contacted the RSPCA.
She was found inside an open cardboard box placed in a drawer and had a blanket with a Father Christmas motif wrapped around her and some cat food.
The discarded kitten is thought to have only been around six to eight weeks old.
RSPCA Inspector Kirsten Ormerod said: “The dog walker thought the body still felt warm and so sadly it is likely the kitten had died in that spot.
"The fact the kitten was also found with food makes me believe whoever left her had left her at the point she was alive.
“I found the kitten appeared to have some kind of deformity to her front leg and some superficial cuts on her abdomen - so she may have been injured or unwell which is why she hadn’t left the open box.
“It’s just so sad that someone has left her out in a box at night in a wooded area, if they couldn’t look after her anymore they should have tried to seek help."
The RSPCA has urged owners not to abandon their pets and to seek help from friends, family or charities if they encounter difficulties caring for them.
It comes after the charity said it was in the midst of a "cat crisis" following a spike in incidents involving the furry felines.
Since the start of lockdown, the RSPCA said there have been 6,630 incidents reported to the charity’s hotline about cats with 176 incidents reported in Kent.
This includes a cat who was found trapped inside a shed in Rochester on May 4, which had collapsed and was suffering with symptoms similar to poisoning.
Another kitten was also found abandoned in a box outside the front door of the Cinque Ports Veterinary Surgery, in Station Road, Lydd.
Anyone with information regarding the kitten abandoned in Ashenbank Wood is urged to get in touch by calling the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.
