A ‘devoted’ mother cat and her kittens were rescued from a 45°C boiler room after she managed to keep her babies alive for three weeks.
One-year-old cat Barbie was discovered after residents at a block of flats heard persistent meowing coming from the building’s boiler room.
Animal wardens attended the apartments in Pimlico, central London, on June 16 and found the feline family hidden behind the boilers.
Barbie and babies were then quickly rescued from the heat and cramped conditions and taken to Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Victoria.
Barbie and one of her kittens, Guinness, have now found their forever homes.
Amanda Rumball, London welfare officer at Blue Cross, said Barbie had done all she could to protect her kittens in the heat.
She added: ‘Barbie is an incredibly devoted mum.
‘Despite finding herself in unimaginable conditions, she kept her kittens safe and cared for them until help arrived.
‘She was understandably frightened when she first came into our care, but it didn’t take long before she realised she and her babies were safe.
‘Veterinary examinations showed just how remarkable her care had been. While Barbie was a little underweight and covered in dust from her ordeal, she was otherwise in good health.’
While the kittens – thought to be around three weeks old when they were found – were initially found to be in ‘excellent condition’, further checks turned up some unfortunate health problems.
Ms Rumball added: ‘Sadly, further checks by our vet found one of the kittens had a severe and complex congenital condition.
‘Following careful assessment, the difficult decision was made by the team to put him to sleep to prevent further suffering.
‘Another kitten, Malibu, has since been diagnosed with a Grade 4 heart murmur. Malibu is still too small to undergo the scan she needs, so she remains in our care while we carry out further checks.
‘Once she’s big enough and we know she’s ready, we’ll be able to find Malibu the loving home she deserves too.’
Ms Rumball said Barbie and her kittens are among the ‘many’ animals coming into the care of Blue Cross in what she branded a ‘hidden pet welfare crisis’.
‘We’re seeing more vulnerable cats and kittens needing our help, and every story highlights just how important it is that pets receive the care and support they need to thrive,’ she added.
Barbie and her kittens were rescued by an animal welfare officer from Westminster City Council.
Councillor Caroline Sargent, deputy leader and cabinet member for enforcement at Westminster City Council, said: ‘As an animal lover, this was an extraordinary rescue and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our animal welfare team.
‘We hope this touching story helps to highlight the importance of looking after pets during periods of hot weather and knowing what to do if you have concerns about animals in distress.
‘It’s fantastic to see Barbie and her kittens receiving expert care from Blue Cross and it’s even better news to know that all three of them have found their forever homes.’
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