It started as a normal day on the job for a group of sanitation workers in Hampshire, England — until they rolled a bin toward their truck and froze. Right at the top, nestled on a scrap of cardboard, was a heartbreaking sight: five newborn kittens, barely a week old.
Instead of dumping the contents as usual, the crew gently reached into the bin, scooped up the fragile babies, and rushed them to a nearby vet. From there, the veterinary team contacted the RSPCA for emergency support.
“It’s frightening to think what could have happened if those collectors hadn’t noticed them,” said RSPCA inspector Leanna Hone. “Their timing quite literally saved these kittens’ lives.”
Despite their terrifying start, the kittens were thankfully unharmed. Now under the care of the RSPCA’s Hampshire and Surrey Border Branch, they’re warm, fed, and growing stronger every day. Their rescuers gave them names as gentle as their tiny frames: Morel, Magpie, Molly, Penny, and Saffron.
“All the kittens are doing well and starting to open their eyes,” Hone shared. “They were cleaned up, fed, and taken to a foster home where they can grow safely.”
As the kittens settle into their foster care, the RSPCA has launched an investigation to determine how they ended up in a trash bin. They’re asking the public for any leads and confirmed that the resident whose bin it was had no idea the kittens were there — and was horrified to learn the truth.
While many questions remain, one thing is certain: these kittens were found just in time. Thanks to a few sharp-eyed sanitation workers and a quick response from local rescuers, they’ve been given a second chance at life.
