Four kittens have been found dumped in a box behind a block of flats in Oxford.

The kittens, thought to eight to ten weeks old, were discovered in a cardboard box behind the block of flats at the junction of Barns Road and Kersington Crescent in Cowley on Monday evening, but it is thought they had been there for up to 24 hours.

RSPCA inspector Doug Davidson, who is caring for the kittens until they are transferred to the Oxford branch of the charity, called on pet owners to neuter their animals to avoid ending up with litters they could not care for.

He said: “Luckily, these kittens were okay, but had they not been found they could have suffered dehydration and starvation or fallen victim to predators.

“Some pet owners just refuse to take responsibility for their animals. If only they would neuter their cats, the numbers of unwanted kittens would reduce and there would be far fewer incidents like this.”

To find out about adopting the kittens, call 01235 821536.