A RESCUE service has launched a fundraiser to enable a cat found under a shed with kittens to have its 'dead' tail amputated.

The cat was found by volunteers from Kitty Rescue Bury under a shed near Halliwell Road in Bolton.

After being told about the cat and her kittens, volunteers had arrived to find them gone and spent several hours scouring nearby gardens and bushes, while knocking on around 200 doors.

Volunteer Chantelle Farrow said: "I used my camera and torch in the bush to locate her as cats eyes reflect - otherwise I would have no way of finding her as it was dark and late night by this point.

"I spotted the kittens and saw that they were young enough not to run away . I made a plan to trap mum, as there was no way I could reach her."

After eventually luring the cat into a trap, Chantelle retrieved the kittens.

She added: "I started cutting it back to reach them and it really hard as the bush was so thick and full of thorns - we kept getting stabbed whilst cutting it back.

"It was also laced with spiders, snails and rubbish- it was like a Bush Tucker trail almost.

"There were three kittens, around two to three weeks old, and they very healthy looking big kittens."

After naming the mother Hallie, a trip to the vet's found out that the stray cat had a necrotic tail - meaning the tissue was dead

While she and her kittens are now recovering in a foster home, the rescue service is seeking to raise money to pay for the procedure.

The vet has provided an initial estimation that it will cost £558 and Kitty Rescue Bury is now appealing to the public to help raise funds.

The overall cost for their care is set to be much more as they still need to cover the cost of food, litter, bedding and all basic vet care for her and her kittens (flea, worming, microchip, vaccinations and neutering).

If you want donate you can do so directly to the vets, Beech house or to the service's accounts:

Kitty Rescue Bury

HSBC

40-15-21

91680579

PayPal: kittyrescuebury@hotmail.com

Or via their Facebook fundraiser:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/760519641441285/?fundraiser_source=external_url