An animal charity has raised concerns after a cat was found with a plastic carrier bag around its neck.

Cats Protection Swale is urging owners to get their pets microchipped, as they struggle to find the animal's owner.

The moggie was discovered on Saturday, September 21, in Woodberry Drive in Murston, Sittingbourne.

Cats Protection’s Kim Braysher, who lives in Halfway on Sheppey, picked up the call from a member of the public who had spotted it around some communal bins near some flats.

It was assumed she was trying to find food and got caught on a carrier bag inside one of the containers.

“They couldn't get near her because she was very timid,” she said.

“So they called on us to give them a hand and we went down to set up a trap.

“It was a very quick and easy. She was frightened but seemed like a very lovely and sweet little cat.

“We got some scissors and chopped off the bag.”

The cat is around two years old and doesn’t appear to be a stray. However, the charity is unable to locate the owner after realising she is not microchipped.

Kim added: “She’s very clean. If it were an outdoors or feral cat, the paws would be grubby.

“She's got fleas, but apart from that she's in good health.”

In June, the government introduced a new law which means owners must have their feline friends chipped or face a fine of up to £500.

There are more than nine million pet cats in England and up until last year more than 2.3 million were estimated to be not microchipped.

Kim has been a volunteer at the animal charity for seven years and says it is a “big problem”.

“A lot of people just don't bother,” she explained. “There's no way of enforcing it to be honest.

“They know they can get away with it, so they think what's the point?

“It's really just a grain of rice that we can implant in the neck – it's as simple as that.”

An appeal to find the owner has been posted on the charity’s Facebook page.

The moggie has been given flea and worming treatments and is currently at a temporary foster home. They have named her Carrie.

After seven days a vet will check to see if she’s been spayed and once it hits the two-week mark she will have her vaccinations.

If nobody comes forward, Carrie will go through the rehoming process.

If you have any information, contact Cats Protection Swale using the reference F24-047. Proof of ownership is required.