A cat which was found with her kittens inside a cushion in a garden is believed to have been abandoned since last year.

She is thought to have been left to fend for herself at the home in Otway Street, Chatham, since October.

The cat and her four kittens, which were all in good health, were only discovered in the back garden when new tenants moved in on May 20.

They were rescued by the RSPCA and taken to its Canterbury and District branch, where they were placed with a foster carer before being rehomed.

Inspector Kirsten Ormerod said: “The cat had made a nest inside a furniture cushion in the garden of the property.

“It has been empty since last year, and the neighbours had been caring for a number of cats that appear to have been left behind.

“New tenants moved to the property and found the cat and her four tiny newborn kittens. After they called us, I came out to assess the family.

“One of the kittens had a weepy eye, but other than that, they were all pretty healthy, largely thanks to the care of the neighbours.

“Because the kittens were so young and vulnerable, we decided to collect them and take them to RSPCA Canterbury.”

The cat has been named Lady Luck and her four kittens Bells, Phoenix, Griffin and Unicorn after historic pubs in Canterbury.

Natalie Archer from RSPCA Canterbury added: “She is a good protective mum, and the kittens are doing well. There are two little boys and two little girls, each two weeks old. All being well, they will be up for adoption in six weeks.”

Anyone with information about how the cats came to be abandoned can contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

It comes as the animal charity is bracing for an influx of kittens between May and September, when there is a huge peak in cat breeding and the majority of kittens are born.

As a result, unexpected litters of kittens often end up abandoned or given up and come into rescue centres.

The RSPCA recorded 27,853 incidents about cats in need last year, of which 14,568 were between May and September and of these reports, 7,879 concerned abandoned cats.

So far this year, the charity has already received nearly 3,000 reports of abandoned cats, and it expects this to rise significantly as the breeding season gets underway.

Cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, Alice Potter, said: “With the cost of living crisis putting an extra strain on people’s finances, we are concerned that we may see more cats than ever in need of help at a time when our centres are already full-to-bursting.

“This is why we have issued an urgent plea to the public to help us tackle the cat overpopulation crisis by ensuring they are neutering their cats, by helping local stray cats, fostering or volunteering for a rescue and if they are looking to bring a cat into their homes to make sure they adopt do not shop.”

She added that the best and fastest way to get the animals help is to take them directly to a vet who will then contact the RSPCA if there are further welfare concerns.

However, if there are concerns that a cat or kitten has been abandoned in or at a property, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.