Abandoned cats rescued from derelict flat

8:46am Sunday 25th November 2007

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The RSPCA was called to pick up three cats found without food or water in a derelict flat last night.

Firefighters from Wallington fire station found the cats when they went to deal with a leaking ceiling in a flat in Rectory Lane at about 11.30pm.

One of the cats was quite young and was obviously pining for affection as it followed us around everywhere."

Dave Coleman, crew manager

Crew manager Dave Coleman said: "Water was coming through the ceiling so we put up a ladder and climbed to the flat upstairs.

"The patio door was open so we walked in. It looked like the place had been abandoned and three cats were living there. It was a mess."

Mr Coleman said the cats had run out of food and it looked like they had attempted to chew through a bag of cat litter in search of something to eat.

He said: "They didn't have any water either, and when we turned on the tap to fill up a bowl for them they jumped up and drank straight from the tap.

"One of the cats was quite young and was obviously pining for affection as it followed us around everywhere."

The flat appeared to have been empty for a couple of months, according to Mr Coleman, who said post was stacked up by the front door and two sofas in the sitting room were still in their packaging.

Neighbours said they had not seen anyone at the flat for about two months.

An RSPCA officer came to pick up the cats while the fire crew fixed the leak, which was coming from where a radiator had been removed from the wall.