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As temperatures dropped below zero, four tiny kittens less than a week old were dumped in a cardboard box outside Hengoed railway station.

The cats, one ginger and three black, were lucky to survive.

They were found by a woman, who was out walking her dog with her grandfather when they discovered the cats – who wouldn’t have survived for much longer in those temperatures.

They spotted a box in some bushes outside the station. Inside, they found the kittens sheltering together in the box, which had no air holes and was sealed closed with a strip of tape.

Following the find, the Gwent branch of Cats Protection has called for help.

The branch’s coordinator, Glynis Davies, said: “I was totally horrified that such young and defenceless kittens were abandoned without even a towel or blanket for warmth.

“As a branch we take in over 300 kittens every year and think we’ve seen it all, but this has been one of the coldest weeks of the year so far and these kittens would certainly have died if they had been outside for much longer.”

The cats, who should have been relying on their mother to keep them alive, have now been named after Thomas the Tank Engine characters – Thomas, Percy, Annie and Clarabel.

Glynis added: “The kittens are so young that their eyes aren’t open and Annie and Clarabel’s tiny ears are still folded against their heads.

“At this age all they can really do is feel and smell so we are doing everything their mother should be doing.

“We are really lucky that one of our local vet nurses, Sophie, has offered to hand-rear them. It’s a round-the-clock job with feeds needed every couple of hours.

“Sophie will also be regulating their body temperature because they cannot do it themselves, toileting them and beginning their socialisation.”

Glynis continued: “We understand that cats have unexpected litters or that people’s circumstances change but there is no excuse for leaving cats of any age to fend for themselves and kittens this young simply cannot survive without their mothers.

“Anyone who finds themselves unable to cope with cats in their care should contact their local animal welfare charity, like Cats Protection, a rescue organisation or vet.

“While we can’t always take cats into care immediately we do try our best and with a little bit of time for planning we can ensure that you and the cats have the best possible experience. No cat or kitten should be left out in the cold.”

Anyone wishing to help the branch care for the kittens can buy something from its wish list, or make a donation to the branch.

Once the kittens are nine weeks old, they will be ready to find new homes. Visit the Cats Protection website for more details.