It was an ordinary day at B&E Transport and Recycling Centre in Witney, Oxfordshire—until it wasn’t. Workers were preparing to empty a large skip filled with cardboard, ready to be sent off for recycling when something unusual caught their attention. Tucked away amidst the crumpled piles of cardboard were four tiny, wide-eyed kittens.
The workers immediately stopped what they were doing, carefully navigating the piles of waste to reach the little creatures. Cold, scared, and just six weeks old, the kittens were huddled together, oblivious to the danger they were in. Had the workers not noticed them, the skip—and the kittens—would have been loaded into machinery, with devastating consequences.
“They were so lucky to be found,” said Sharon Chrisp, operations manager for the RSPCA Oxfordshire branch. “It’s heart-wrenching to think how close they came to being crushed with the recycling. This rescue really is a miracle.”
The workers acted quickly, gently removing the kittens from the skip and taking them straight to Cornyard Veterinary Practice. From there, the RSPCA Oxfordshire branch stepped in to ensure the tiny foursome received the care and love they desperately needed.
“They were hard to spot in the piles of cardboard,” Sharon explained. “We aren’t sure if they were abandoned or if their mum was feral and chose what seemed like a quiet, cosy spot to raise her kittens. Either way, the important thing is that they’re safe now.”
The kittens—three girls and one boy—were given fitting names: Olly, Felicity, Pepper, and Serendipity. In foster care, the kittens began to thrive. With full tummies, warm beds, and plenty of cuddles, they quickly transformed from frightened little balls of fur to playful, affectionate bundles of joy.
“They’re doing brilliantly,” said Sharon. “They’ve had all their veterinary checks and treatments, and they absolutely love to be picked up and stroked. Watching them grow and thrive is such a privilege.”
The kittens will be ready to find their forever homes in early July, and unsurprisingly, they’ve already captured the hearts of many. “We’ve had a lot of interest in them already,” Sharon added with a smile. “But we always ensure our animals go to the very best homes, where they’ll be loved and cared for just as they deserve.”
For now, Olly, Felicity, Pepper, and Serendipity are enjoying the safety and comfort of their foster home, blissfully unaware of just how close they came to a tragic fate.
RSPCA Oxfordshire continues to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals like these kittens, but the charity relies on public support to keep doing its vital work – please donate here.
