Cat and eight kittens rescued after being dumped in a suitcase

The kittens have all been named after characters in the Disney film the Aristocats Credit: RSPCA

A cat and her eight kittens have been rescued after being found abandoned inside a zipped-up suitcase on a disused railway line in Essex.

The black and white cat, now named Tarini, and her five-week-old kittens were discovered by a dog walker in a remote spot between Great Yeldham and Castle Hedingham near Halstead on Tuesday, 7 March.

They were inside a navy blue case with a Polo logo.

The RSPCA was called and came and rescued the cat and kittens, after the passer by picked up the case and took them home for safety.

The cats are now in RSPCA care. They were all very thin, and looked to not have had much food for a while. Tarini had to be put on a drip and receive intensive care at the vets as she was also very dehydrated. She has since recovered well and is back at an Essex centre with her kittens.