The RSPCA are appealing for information after a terrified kitten was found dumped in a tied-up carrier bag with a broken skull.

The kitten, aged about four weeks old, was found when a man returning home from work heard a squealing sound coming from a hedgerow in Brookside View, Haydock, St Helens.

He went to see where the noise was coming from and saw the carrier bag.When he untied the bag he found the poor kitten inside crying.  He could see the kitten’s head was deformed and the poor puss kept falling over so he alerted the RSPCA.

Animal rescuer Jenny Bethel was sent to the scene and she could see there was something wrong with the kitten as he was swaying and walking backwards. 

She took him for emergency veterinary treatment and he was then transferred to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery, in Nantwich, where x-rays revealed the poor kitten had a fractured skull.

Due to the severity of the injury and pain the kitten was in, a vet decided the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep.

Jenny is now investigating and believes the kitten was subjected to the head trauma before he was put in the carrier bag.

She said: “The poor kitten must have been in severe pain and terribly frightened. 

“What happened to this poor kitten could have been malicious or an accident but it then doesn't explain how he ended up alone, injured and scared tied inside a carrier.  

“I am very keen to find the person who is responsible for this. I believe the kitten was with his mother until the day before he was found because he was of a good weight and was also clean.

“I am hoping someone may recognise the kitten and can identify who it belonged to or someone may have seen something suspicious in the area

“I am just grateful he was found so he didn’t have to suffer any longer on his own - but it was such a sad case to deal with.”

The kitten was found on Wednesday (3rd)  at about 4.30pm. Anyone with information should call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.

Throughout the winter months, the RSPCA expects to rescue thousands of animals from neglect, cruelty and suffering. Already this winter, we have received more than 82,000 calls but the calls to our rescue line are not stopping so neither will we. To help our rescue teams continue to reach the animals who desperately need us, visit www.rspca.org.uk/xmas and Join the Winter Rescue #JoinTheRescue.