Colleagues Rally Round Newborn Kittens Found at Land Rover Exeter Dealership
Colleagues working at Vertu Land Rover Exeter have stepped in to help a litter of kittens that were discovered in a bin store at the dealership.
The kittens – four male and three female – were found by technician Mike Dixon when he moved a stack of cardboard in the store, with a cat running out and the seven feline youngsters being left huddled together inside a box.
Alongside workshop controller Beth Cupper, who holds a degree in animal conservation, Mike helped to move the kittens to a sturdier box before returning them to the bin store in the hope that the mother would return.
With no sign of the mother several hours later, the kittens – estimated to be no more than a month old - were taken to St David's Veterinary Hospital, where they were given round-the-clock care before being moved to the Cats Protection Devon Cat Centre.
Volunteers and staff at the centre have since spent time caring for and socialising the kittens ahead of rehoming, with Mike himself hoping to give two of the seven a loving home.
Efforts to locate the mother are ongoing, with the hope that she can be safely trapped, neutered and potentially rehomed.
Mike Dixon said: ”We’d seen the mother in the area a few weeks before but didn’t think anything of it, and certainly didn’t realise she had taken her family into the bin store for safety.
“When I was moving cardboard, she suddenly shot out and then I spotted the kittens huddled together in a box that was falling to bits. Thankfully Beth had the knowledge and experience to know what to do to get the help they needed.”
Beth Cupper said: “We were able to move the kittens into a new box to give them better protection, and put pieces of the old one in to retain their scent along with some tuna to try and tempt mum back.
“However, when she didn’t return, I knew they needed professional care so we took them to the vets so they could be properly looked after.”
Mark Magee, Manager at Cats Protection Devon Cat Centre said: “The kittens were very lucky to be found when they were, and we have no way of knowing whether their mother gave birth to the kittens on site or moved them there for safety.
"The kittens' mother did a great job with them and they were all in good health other than needing worming. She couldn't have known that the workshop team would show her young such kindness, nor that Beth would have a background in animal care and ensure they were safe.
“We all feel very grateful that she did as they are a lively, friendly litter of kittens and will make brilliant family companions. Hopefully the mother will return and we can work with the Vertu Land Rover Exeter team to humanely trap her and ensure she is neutered, and potentially rehomed if appropriate.”
The kittens will be available for adoption from the centre in Clyst Honiton, around five miles from Exeter, in the near future.