Two elderly cats in a "poor state" were found dumped in a pet carrier with a note claiming they could no longer be cared for.

The male and female, Basil and Rosemary, were discovered by RSPCA staff on St Peter's Road in Broadstairs in the middle of the night on Thursday, February 21.

The black-and-white female cat had a wound on her face which, on examination, turned out to be a cancerous lesion. Vets decided to put her to sleep to stop her suffering further.

The black male moggy had a swollen eye, and both were very skinny and covered in fleas.

RSPCA inspector Grace Harris-Bridge said: “These elderly cats were in a very poor state when they were found.

"Both of them were skinny and covered in fleas and sadly Rosemary was suffering badly from cancer.

"They were dumped around midnight outside the vets but thankfully someone found them.

"They were abandoned in their cat carrier with no food or water and just a note stating that the person who had been feeding them was not the owner and could no longer look after them."

The charity says there is "never an excuse to abandon an animals".

Grace added: "Even if these cats were strays rather than owned pets, if someone has been feeding a stray cat, there is a chance they already have a responsibility for their care under the Animal Welfare Act.”

The male cat, Basil, is now recovering at the RSPCA Thanet branch. He is believed to be around 10-years-old.

Anyone with any information about the cats is asked to contact the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.