A KITTEN which suffered horrendous injuries after being tortured by its owners has made an amazing recovery after months of treatment and care.

At just a few months old, Smudge was hurled into a tumble dryer, held against an electric fire and thrown out of a bedroom window.

The young animal suffered severe burns and was badly bruised after being kicked and beaten.

After a tip-off from a member of the public to animal charity, Cats of Leyland Aid Welfare Society (CLAWS), the ten-month-old cat was rescued from the monstrous abuse that could have killed it.

Now, despite the traumatic start, its carers say Smudge is well adjusted and would make an ideal family pet. They are currently looking to re-home the tom cat.

Veterinary nurse Jen Forest, 20, who works at White and Baxter veterinary surgery, New Lane, Penwortham is caring for Smudge with housemate Ali Thomson.

She said: "He is absolutely brilliant. He's got lasting scars, but they haven't got any healing left to do. And he will probably have bald patches forever, where the fur's not growing back at all.

"He's an absolutely lovely cat and if we could, we would keep him ourselves."

It was two months ago when Smudge was taken in by the Leyland-based charity, from the Wigan area and was nursed back to health by vets and his new carers.

Nicky Rollinson, founder of CLAWS, said: "We took him in from some people who had been very badly treating him.

"He had burns on his side that looked as if he had been held against an electric fire and, according to someone else, he had been put in a tumble dryer and thrown out of a bedroom window and generally kicked around.

"He was in a bit of a sorry state, and is only a young cat. But it hasn't affected him, thank goodness, and there are no long-term problems. We are now looking for a home for him."

No legal action has been taken against the cat's owners.

Smudge is one of about 15 cats ready for re-homing by the charity, many of them having been abused or mistreated.

Mrs Rollinson said: "It really is awful. You think today is a civilised society, but in reality there are people out there that aren't civilised at all.

"To get pleasure from being cruel to any animal is appalling."

"Some animals are not as brave as Smudge, and sometimes cannot bounce back from such abuse.

"We have one at the moment that just lies on the floor as if he is waiting to be hit."

According to RSPCA chiefs, Smudge's sorry tale is not uncommon. A spokesman said: "Our cruelty statistics last year showed that ignorance and neglect are the main reasons why most animals suffer in the north west, but occasionally RSPCA inspectors will come across sickening acts of deliberate and brutal cruelty on defenceless animals, and these cases are always extremely distressing."

To help Smudge call the charity on 01772 423218.