Four very cute kittens that were dumped in a cardboard box in the summer are now on the road to recovery.

They were rescued by Haringey Council staff who found them abandoned outside the depot in Bruce Castle Park when they arrived for work in August.

The feline sisters — now affectionately known as Bobbi, Stella, Terri and Tracey — are  at the RSPCA’s animal hospital in Finsbury Park and will soon be ready for new homes after being treated by RSPCA vets for cat flu.

“The kittens are all doing well,” the rescue charity’s Emma Yelland said. “They initially had cat flu, so we put them in isolation — but are much better now.

“The females are typical playful and friendly kittens that love toys and treats.”

Terri, Tracey, Bobbi and Stella will be neutered and ready to move to a rehoming centre for adoption once they have put on a bit more weight.

“It’s such a rewarding part of our job to see animals rehabilitated,” Emma added. “They soon move on to find loving ‘forever’ homes — I’m pleased they will be able to do just that.”

How the kittens were found. Photo: Haringey CouncilHow the kittens were found. Photo: Haringey Council (Image: Haringey LB)

The incident in August when the four-week-old kitties were found in a draughty cardboard box raised concerns by Haringey local authority over the rise in pets being left in parks and open spaces.

The cost-of-living crisis is being blamed for the sharp rise in pets being abandoned.

The rate of abandoned animals is 30 per cent more this year than in 2020, according to the RSPCA.

The RSPCA runs a ‘cost of living’ programme and special helpline to support owners facing difficulties feeding their pets. The number is 030-0123 0650, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Owners struggling to care for their pets are being urged to speak to friends, family, local charity or a vet — rather than dump their pets, like the kittens found in Bruce Castle Park.

Another animal charity, the PDSA, also believes there is a crisis of strays roaming neighbourhoods caused by pet-owners failing to get their animals neutered, which has led to an over-population of cats with 1.4million up and down the country left unneutered.