PET owners who are unable to cope with unexpected cat litters have dumped their kittens in remote locations, leaving them to die.

Currently, the RSPCA centre at The Holdings in Kempsey, near Worcester, is tending to three dumped kittens found close to death and they have said the reason for this “cat crisis” is a lack of neutering.

Mario and Shuffle were put in a sealed plastic bag and left deep in woodland just outside the city.

Fortunately they were heard crying by a member of the public and were rescued.

Lucky, meanwhile, was taken to the centre via an RSPCA inspector, who received a call from a truck driver who had stopped in Worcester to collect plastic waste from a recycling site and Lucky was about to be dispatched at the end destination.

Geraldine Haynes, spokeswoman for the RSPCA Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch, said: “People need to get their cats neutered and the cats need to have this done when they’re young as it’s strange at what age they start to want to breed.

“I think many owners who buy a cat do not realise this when their cat is suddenly pregnant with a litter.

“When people get an animal, as well as food, they need to take into account the cost of vet bills.

“I know some people can’t afford to get their cats neutered but this is part of responsible pet ownership.”

Despite having rehomed more than 750 cats and kittens in the county since the centre opened in October 2016, the RSPCA cattery is still full and each day there are more cats waiting to come into care.