A badly injured kitten found crying for life after crawling into a garden with horrific wounds has shown himself to be a little fighter, a national cat charity has said.

Bandit, as he has been named by his rescuers, needed urgent medical attention after a couple heard ear-piercing cries coming from their front garden in Bobbing Hill, Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, late one night.

CCTV footage showed the kitten dragging himself into the garden.

The couple found the tiny mite in a pitiful state. He was unable to walk, with a severely infected back end and what appeared to be a broken leg and damaged tail. They called Cats Protection’s Swale branch and cat welfare volunteer Danielle Hoynes rushed to the kitten's aid.

The charity said it was not known how the cat came to be in the area but it was clear the quick response of his finders and the cat carers who responded to the call probably saved his young life.

Danielle scooped up the kitten and ferried him to Newnham Court Veterinary Hospital, in Maidstone.

The vet team removed the maggots from his wounds, which were thoroughly washed and treated. They made the kitten, believed to have been aged around 10 weeks at the time, as comfortable as possible.

Kim Braysher, welfare team leader at Cats Protection’s Swale branch, said: “His strength and personality are incredible.

"He’s so loving and trusting despite what he’s been through. He is the most delicious kitten we’ve ever met.

“We all love Bandit, he’s such a spirited boy. He’s just the cutest, bravest little kitten. He’s been the perfect patient, although he doesn’t like wearing his head cone.”

She added: "Bandit has a long road to travel and he is not yet ready to be homed, but we are hopeful that with good veterinary care he will be set up to lead a full and happy life.

"Everyone who meets him falls under his spell.”

The charity said vets had been impressed by Bandit’s recovery. His tail has been amputated, his back leg has been fixed and, although he had an infection after the operation, his wounds are healing.

Treatment has been expensive, it added, and is not over yet, so the branch has launched an appeal for Bandit to recoup some of the £3,000 costs and help it care for more cats.

To donate, visit tinyurl.com/SwaleCats

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