Betty the kitten playing with a rope toy

Kitten found dumped in store’s garden section

A six-week-old kitten found dumped in a homeware shop in south London has been found a loving home by Blue Cross.

Betty was found in the gardening section of Wilko in Mitcham Road, Tooting by a customer who alerted staff after hearing tiny miaows.

The kitten, who is in good health, was taken to our rehoming centre in Lewknor, Oxfordshire and was cared for until she was old enough to find a home.

Blue Cross is once again urging people to neuter their cats as we brace ourselves for another bumper kitten season with the onset of the warmer spring weather.

Betty sitting on a red blanket looking at camera
Betty was found scared and alone in the outdoor area of the homeware store

Since January, our charity has already had 106 kittens in for rehoming at its centre across the country – up 10 per cent on the same period in 2018.

Another litter of kittens, found living in a compost heap, were also taken in and looked after by the team at Lewknor.

Laura Smart, Blue Cross Animal Welfare Assistant, said: “Betty should have still been with her mum and litter mates. She must have had such a scare being dumped in a busy store surrounded by strange smells and noises.

“With the weather warming up, it’s really important to make sure your cat is neutered and microchipped as they will be more inclined to roam.

“Every year we take in many unwanted litters of kittens and strays and it is important to know that very young cats and siblings are likely to produce a litter if not neutered.”

Marion Terry, 20, customer assistant at Wilko, said: “When we first found the kitten she was understandably frightened as it was a busy lunchtime in our store. I picked her up and put her in our staffroom.   She was soon purring and fell asleep on my colleague's arm.”

See our cats up for rehoming.

— Page last updated 09/03/2021