Cat and kittens dumped at Tesco recycling point in Yarmouth

East Coast Pet Rescue was called to the Tesco Superstore in Pasteur Road after a member of the public discovered the feline family. 

But the "scared and confused" cats quickly scattered as attempts were made to catch them. 

So co-founder of the rescue, Sarah Evans, set down food and traps as she desperately tried to bring them to safety. 

Jigsaw the cat and her four kittens were found at a Tesco recycling point (Image: East Coast Pet Rescue)

She said: "We set some traps and the Tesco employees kept checking in on them for us.

"We went back at 7pm and we had caught two kittens. 

"Then at 8pm we went back again and we caught the mum and another kitten.

"We could see the last kitten but it was so frightened it wouldn't come out so we had to leave it overnight.

"We were worried sick about the poor thing."

Four kittens were found at a Tesco recycling point in Great Yarmouth (Image: East Coast Pet Rescue)

Luckily, by Friday morning the last kitten was caught and the whole family was taken into the rescue's care.

Ms Evans said they are waiting for the cats to settle in before giving them a full check over - but all appear to be in reasonably good health.

She believes they were dumped by an owner who no longer wanted them.

A slow cooker filled with tuna was also discovered close to where the kittens were found, which Ms Evan's thinks may have also been left by the previous owner.

"They are very frightened," she said.

"Mum appears bewildered but she seems in good health which makes us think they were dumped.

"She has probably been taken from her home and now she's left thinking 'what's happened?'. 

"It's absolutely heartbreaking. I definitely think they were put there."

Once the cat - now named Jigsaw - and her kittens, which are estimated at six to eight weeks old, have had all relevant check-ups and treatments they will eventually be put up for adoption.

But this most recent incident is just one of many cases of kittens being abandoned in the Great Yarmouth area.

Ms Evans added: "We are extremely busy and full, but if you just ring us, or any rescue, and explain the circumstances we can try to give you support of offer advice.

"If you feel like you have no other option than to dump them at least take them to vet in a secure carrier where they are contained, so there is no risk of any injury or harm."