On a chilly evening in January 2019, a woman named Wendy was making her way home from work in Stratford, London. Her route took her past a narrow alley, lined with a tall brick wall, when something peculiar caught her eye. Four large packages were lined up against the wall, each one sealed tightly with an excessive amount of tape. They looked out of place, discarded as if waiting for the next day’s trash collection.
Initially, Wendy dismissed the packages as strange but unimportant. However, as she continued walking, an unsettling feeling made her pause. She realized she had heard faint noises coming from the direction of the boxes. Intrigued and concerned, Wendy decided to turn back and take a closer look.
As she approached, the noises became more distinct. To her astonishment, they sounded like the soft meows of cats. Uncertain of what to do next, Wendy decided it was best to contact a local animal rescue organization for help.
Rescue workers quickly arrived at the scene, assessing the situation. They were cautious not to open the boxes on-site, fearing that the cats inside might be in a vulnerable state. Instead, they carefully poked holes in the cardboard to ensure the cats could breathe, then transported the boxes to a safe location where they could be opened.
The moment of truth was captured on video, which was later shared on social media by the Celia Hammond Animal Trust. The footage shows a rescuer delicately cutting through the layers of tape with a butter knife, taking great care not to harm the animals inside. When the boxes were finally opened, the rescuers were met with a heartbreaking sight: 11 terrified cats huddled inside.
Among the group were nine young cats and two older adults. Surprisingly, none of them appeared to be feral; one even wore a collar, indicating it had once been someone’s pet. Though the cats were underweight and infested with fleas, they were otherwise in reasonably good health. Remarkably, despite the trauma they had endured, the cats remained calm and docile.
The Celia Hammond Animal Trust shared their disbelief on Facebook, writing, “We can only assume the intention was for them to die as surely everybody knows animals need to be able to breathe to survive. The boxes cannot have been there very long as without oxygen our vets estimate they probably wouldn’t have lived more than an hour or two.”
The group also expressed their bewilderment over how such friendly and well-cared-for cats could have ended up in such a dire situation. “One really strange thing is that these cats are really friendly and have clearly once been loved, handled, and cuddled — what on earth would drive an apparently loving owner to do something so terrible? Perhaps it was a family member or neighbor who hated the cats enough to do this.”
The rescued cats were taken to the shelter, where they received much-needed care and attention. The trust reported that the cats were recovering well, gradually overcoming the shock of their ordeal. “Once they had recovered from their shock they have turned out to be friendly and like being stroked,” read a post from January 18.
In the days following their rescue, the cats were treated for fleas and worms, vaccinated, and scheduled to be neutered and microchipped in preparation for adoption. The Celia Hammond Animal Trust hoped to find homes for the cats in pairs or trios, as they had formed close bonds with one another.
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By January 27, the cats were reported to be thriving in their new environment. “The help you have all given has been absolutely amazing and is so very much appreciated,” the trust shared. “It really is good to know that there are so many people out there who support our rescue work.”
The story of these 11 cats serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of compassion and vigilance. Thanks to Wendy’s quick thinking and the dedication of the rescue team, these cats were spared from a tragic fate and given a second chance at life, filled with the love and care they deserve.
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