Tiny kitten covered in lice and mites rescued in Oswaldtwistle

The kitten, who was named Grover by rescuer Emma Church, was found in Oswaldtwistle on Saturday.

Emma, who volunteers for Little Tinkers, a cat rescue in Blackburn, said she was asked by a cat rescuer from English Barn Cats to help Grover, before taking him to an official rescue centre.

Little Grover (Image: Social media)

She said: “As soon as I left work, I rushed home got changed and me and my husband rushed off to get him.

“I got to the area and the mum and baby Grover were there.

“I distracted mum with food while I hand grabbed little Grover, then checked the immediate area for more kittens and left as I could see baby was in terrible condition.

“He was transported back to mine where I could see he was covered in lice or mites and his eyes were sealed shut.”

Emma, who lives in Accrington, has cared for as many as 20 cats in her own home, and often works with other rescuers across East Lancashire to help abandoned felines.

Currently she has 15 cats living with her but said she “just can’t say no when a call like this comes in”.

She added: “I can't say no when I get one of these jobs.

“I named him Grover due to where he was found in Oswaldtwistle

“We are going back today to try and catch mamma cat and set up cameras to double check for more babies.”

Grover's eyes were glued shut with gunk (Image: Social media)

Emma said it is vital to neuter cats when purchasing or acquiring as them as pets, as her and her fellow rescuers are experiencing more and more of these types of situations or abandonments, especially with the cost of living crisis.

And with cat rescues full to the brim, and with little in the way of funding to help pay for them, it is becoming increasingly hard to maintain the welfare of many of these animals.

She went on: “We are seeing more and more of this type of kitten in very poor conditions, covered in lice and fleas.

“It's so dangerous for little kittens as it literally sucks the life out of them.

“The local rescues in Accrington such as Cat Friends of Hyndburn, East Lancashire Cats and Happy Cats are full to bursting.

“We need help from kind people willing to open their homes for periods to foster cats and kittens like these. I've had over 100 in the four and a bit years I've been involved with Little Tinkers.

“It's vital in these times all rescues work together. I am always willing to help a fellow rescuer.”

Grover (Image: Social media)

Emma was eventually able to arrange transportation to take Grover to Kitty Rescue Bury on Saturday evening, after all other rescues in the area were unable to help.

Kitty Rescue Bury is a small team of volunteers who are dedicated to helping sick, injured, straying and feral cats. They rely on donations from the public to stay afloat but on Sunday, after taking Grover in, they had to make the tough decision to temporarily close their doors.

A spokesperson for the rescue said: “We have just paid off £7,000 in vet bills and we have barely any money left to run the rescue.

“Poorly little kitten Grover is now in the emergency vets. He is only around four weeks old, his eyes were matted over and glued shut with gunk.

“He is lethargic, and his breathing is raspy. The poor baby has fly eggs around his eyes as well as loads of lice or mites.

“Once opened we couldn't even see his eyes. He is in safe hands with the vets and they will do everything they can to help him.

“We’re struggling to keep afloat but so many cats need us, so we have to do our best to fundraise.

“We end up out of area to help cats like Grover as we find other rescues are in same position as us and they are just unable to help.

“We are in a cat crisis its incredibly hard to cope we see such horrific situations daily and called to help so many cats every day its heart breaking.”

From next year, the government is planning to introduce a new law meaning all cats will need to be microchipped, but for now, Kitty Rescue Bury and Emma are urging anyone who has a cat to get them neutered to help prevent unwanted litters.

A Go Fund Me Page has now been set up to help raise money so Kitty Rescue Bury can continue to help Grover and all the other cats in their care.

To help Grover and the cat rescue, you can donate by following this link