IT'S hard to believe anyone could abandon something so small and helpless.

These three-week-old black kittens were dumped in a cardboard box on the doorstep of Bournemouth & District Cats Protection in Kinson on Friday night.

The four tiny youngsters were discovered by horrified Cats Protection volunteers Brenda and Frank Mitchell as they returned from babysitting their grandchildren.

The kittens are now in an incubator and being cared for around the clock by big-hearted Cats Protection volunteer Mary Turner.

Brenda is appealing for the people who left the kittens to also drop off the mother cat with no questions asked as it is touch and go whether the kittens survive.

She said: "We got home about 11pm and saw a small box on the doorstep. It was as light as a feather and then we saw something move.

"We saw it was four three-week-old kittens. They were hungry and crying for their mother.

"We have got them in an incubator feeding them every two hours round the clock. Mary has got them snuggled up to a teddybear."

The mother cat will also be suffering physically and emotionally from having the kittens snatched from her at such a young age, added Brenda.

"We are appealing for them to drop off the mother cat. Even if they want the mother cat back later we will pay to get her spayed with no questions asked.

"The box had a picture of a pushchair on it so they must have children themselves. How would they like it if their mother were parted from their children?

"The mother cat must be reunited with her kittens. She will probably go straight out and get pregnant again because she is missing them. It is crucial for the mother and crucial for the kittens. But thank God they did bring them to us."

Contact Bournemouth & District Cats Protection on 01202 579468 which also accepts answer phone messages.