Four abandoned kittens are ready for new homes after being found dumped in a bag in a New Norfolk alley.
Ten Lives Cat Centre chief executive Noel Hunt says the kittens, named Cedric, George, Fred and Ginny, were about three weeks old when they were found on April 23.
“At just three weeks old, they should have been safely tucked away with their mother,” Hunt said.
“Instead, they were alone, vulnerable and covered in live fleas.”
The kittens were placed with one of the shelter’s experienced foster carers, who provided around-the-clock feeding and monitoring.
Hunt says the kittens fell ill within days, developing diarrhoea, vomiting and lethargy and needing an urgent trip to an after-hours vet.
“At such a young age, even minor illnesses can quickly become life threatening,” he said.
The kittens recovered over the following weeks.
They gained weight, moved onto solid food and grew into what Hunt describes as “confident, playful and affectionate kittens”.
Nearly eight weeks on, all four have been desexed and microchipped and are now heading to the adoption rooms.
Hunt says the case shows why the shelter needs to be ready year-round.
“Some require weeks or even months of foster care, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation before they are ready for a loving home,” he said.
The New Town centre is the largest dedicated cat shelter in Tasmania and receives no government funding, relying on donations, bequests and its retail and boarding operations.
