Stray cat rescued by RSPCA saves five-week-old abandoned kitten

A stray cat that was rehomed by the RSPCA has rescued a poorly abandoned kitten by bringing him in to share his new home.

Ten-year-old tabby cat, Sidney, was rescued by the RSPCA in September last year after being abandoned and left on the street.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Sarah Henderson, said: “When we first found Sidney he was underweight and suffering from a nasty skin allergy.

“We took him to RSPCA Wimbledon, Wandsworth and Sutton Branch where he was given some much needed TLC and veterinary care.

“The poor fella wasn’t microchipped and despite our best efforts to trace an owner, no one came forward to claim him.”

Once Sidney was fit and healthy, he was put up for adoption and quickly found a home with new owner Katerina Miteva.

Ms Miteva, 26, from Norbury, said: “I adopted Sidney at the end of October last year, we weren’t sure exactly how old he was, but the vet estimated that he was around 10.

“On his first venture outside, Sidney rescued a kitten.

“There had been heavy rain that morning, so Sidney waited patiently for the rain to stop before stepping outside.

“I remember hearing this ‘meow’ behind me. I turned around to see Sidney standing there, holding something hairy and dripping wet in his mouth.

“At first I thought he had brought home a dead animal he caught, but then the tiniest squeak came from whatever he was holding in his mouth.”

Ms Miteva soon realised that Sidney had brought a house guest home with him.

She added: “I examined the little thing closer and realised, to my surprise, that Sidney was carrying a really small kitten. I grabbed the nearest kitchen towel and wrapped the kitten in it then took him straight to the vet.

“I had no idea what else to do, the poor thing was covered in fleas and was shivering violently, barely making any noise.

“The vets weren’t optimistic about the kitten’s survival chances, he was just five weeks old when Sidney found him.

“But he was a little fighter and with some loving care and under the watchful eye of Sidney he beat the odds and made a full recovery.”

Concerned that someone may be missing their kitten, Ms Miteva tried hard to locate an owner but her efforts were fruitless.

“The vet warned me that this could be a case of someone just getting rid of a kitten they didn’t want,” Ms Miteva said. “We did search for a possible owner, but no one ever came forward. Sidney and his ward were happy to co-exist, so he stayed with us.”

Ms Miteva named the kitten Attila and says he is like “an over enthusiastic golden retriever trapped in the body of a little kitten”.

Pictured top: Left, Sidney who rescued Attila, right (Picture: RSPCA)