A schoolboy whose kitten had to have his leg cut off is raising money for the animal charity in Margate which saved his 'best buddy's' life.

Harrison Keel, from Herne Bay was devastated when Smudge, who is seven months old, came in limping from outside last Sunday.

"I noticed he was bleeding which made me cry because I love him and I wish I could've helped him," said the nine-year-old.

After taking him to the vets, the family, from Herne Bay, were faced with a £6,000 bill to put a pin in the cat's fractured leg, which they were told was unlikely to work, or pay £600 for an amputation.

Mum Cheryl Keel says they already had £350 to pay for the initial examination and x-rays.

"We just don't have that kind of money so we didn't know what to do," she said.

"Someone mentioned the PDSA in Cliftonville so we contacted them as we are a low income family and thought we might be able to get help from them.

"We want to do whatever we can for them... this isn't money to come back to us but to donate to them" - Cheryl Keel

"We were told the same thing by PDSA, that a pin was an option but probably wouldn't work on a cat that age because he'll be jumping around on it, so they amputated.

"They then gave us a receipt for £650 but told us just to pay whatever we can.

"We had already spent almost all the money on the x-rays so we were only able to give them £30."

Harrison, who calls the cat his best buddy, now wants to raise as much as he can to give to PDSA.

"We want to do whatever we can for them," said Mrs Keel.

"This isn't money to come back to us but to donate to them."

Mrs Keel, her husband Rob, their other son Declan, 16, who is autistic, and Harrison are delighted to have Smudge home again.

"Harrison is obsessed with him - he calls him his little brother," said Mrs Keel.

"He was hysterical when Smudge came in with the injured leg."

The 39-year-old says Smudge is adjusting to life with three limbs, although they have to stop the daredevil moggy from climbing everything as he regularly gets stuck.

"He's doing really well - we can't thank the PDSA enough," she said.

If you'd like to donate, click here.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

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