A kitten found injured and wandering on a building site had been intentionally scalded with boiling water, RSPCA inspectors believe. And the charity said the black cat had probably been beaten and tortured over a long period.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the eight-month-old animal was found with various burns across his body and a head injury on the building site in Oldham. Named 'Binx' after the black cat in the Disney movie Hocus Pocus, he is now recovering and remains in the care of the charity.
In a statement, the RSPCA said: "After a couple of days of trying some workmen managed to safely capture the injured cat and took him to the Bury, Oldham and district branch of the RSPCA on Tuesday, October 11. The black feline had an obvious injury to his face and eye and burns on his body so was taken by RSPCA inspector Jess Pierce to the charity's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for veterinary treatment."
Staff there shaved his fur to assess and treat the burns which was when the full extent of his injuries were revealed. A vet said the burns varied in age and it is believed Binx had been abused on a number of occasions over a period of time.
Insp Pierce said: "The injury to his head appears to be consistent with him being struck by something and has caused a swollen eye. I don’t know how he ended up on the building site - maybe he ran away from whoever was causing these awful injuries."
He continued: "It was lucky he was found and I am grateful to the workmen who brought him into our care. Binx seems to have endured a lot of pain at such a young age but in spite of that he is a super-friendly and loving cat.
"He is doing well in our care and will be looked after by the Bury, Oldham and District Branch until they feel he is ready to be rehomed. In the meantime I am keen to trace the callous person responsible for inflicting such horrific and painful injuries on this poor kitten."
Lindsey Lucisano, a receptionist at the RSPCA branch, said Binx is a loving cat, despite all he has been through. "He has every right to be nasty but he isn't at all," she said.
"We will continue to care for him and he will need regular veterinary checks on his burns and eye. Once he has fully recovered we will put him up for rehoming and give him the life he deserves."
Anyone with information about what happened to Binx should call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 1234 999.
