Surviving cats are reunited with roadside rescue friends

George Lindley and Josh Blackwood were sitting in a lay-by when they heard “screaming noises” coming from a bush in the Wingfield area.

To their surprise, they found a black cat along with four kittens who looked to have been dumped “without a care” whether they would “live or die”.

Natasha Ryan, founder of Buttons Cat Rescue in Wombwell, said she was “mortified” about the situation when called out to save the stranded kittens and mum — who has been named Trixie — on December 29.

“When George and Josh found the Trixie and her kittens, they were in a terrible state and we had to act fast,” Ms Ryan said.

“It was as if they’d been thrown and left to die.

“Trixie and her babies were very underweight, starving and extremely dehydrated.

“At the time, we could only find mum along with four kittens but we went back shortly after to make sure there weren’t any more and we sadly found two kittens which had died.

“We tried our best at nursing the kittens back to health along with several attempts at CPR but three died.”

The surviving kitten was named Dinky, Natasha said, adding: “It’s awful that this had to happen but we appreciate George and Josh’s efforts because Trixie and Dinky would have died had they not heard their crying.”

Although Dinky and Trixie survived, Natasha said the ordeal has still left her “shaken”.

She added: “It never gets any easier.

“People don’t understand the emotional and financial stresses these situations place on the volunteers who do what they can to support the animals placed in horrible situations which leaves us shaken.

“There are alternatives and help for people who are thinking about discarding their pets and animals.

“It usually involves overworked volunteers doing what they can to give animals a chance to live because that’s what they deserve — a chance.”

Natasha wanted to thank her staff, all volunteers, who have made a vital difference to the lives of cats placed in “horrible” situations, as well as foster families and people who donate to keep the rescue going.

“Trixie and Dinky are now getting the support and attention they need to make a full recovery,” she said.

“All of us are volunteering at the rescue because we love animals and it fills us with joy to see animals like Dinky and Trixie see the light after a truly awful situation.”

You can support Buttons Cat Rescue’s fundraiser here: https://tinyurl.com/Trixie-and-Dinky