They say a cat has nine lives but six-week-old Yonda must have 10 after surviving nine days in the back of a lorry - and a 2,000 mile trip to Dartford.

The cute kitten, pictured left, was an unofficial passenger in a trailer travelling from Ankara via Istanbul in Turkey to Dartford.

She was only discovered after staff at freight and logistics company Davies Turner unloaded the trailer at their depot.

Among the cargo they found two kittens, one of which was seriously unwell and died that night.

Yonda has now been sent to the Animal Inn, near Deal, for an obligatory six-month quarantine.

Cats Protection has stepped in with plans to rehome the feline stowaway after her stint in quarantine.

They are launching a public appeal for funds to help pay for her quarantine costs.

Heather McCann, from the charity, said: "She was apparently very timid and frightened at first, but thanks to the vigilance and kindness of everyone at Davies Turner, she is now doing well in the comfort of the Animal Inn.

"We can only imagine she jumped into the trailer to find somewhere warm to sleep. I'm sure she never expected to wake up in England."

Davies Turner, based on Dartford's Crossways Business Park, handed over £230 and Ekol, the Turkish company who own the trailer, donated £385.