A PET owner dumped a heavily pregnant cat in the pouring rain and returned the next day, pleading with a rescue shelter to hand her back.

When moggie Tabitha was found in a basket outside Lost Cats Brighton, she had already gone into labour.

Luckily one of the Milk Oak centre volunteers spotted the desperate cat and they managed to deliver four healthy kittens.

But the following day a knock at the door left centre boss Ron Ayres “stunned” when the owner returned asking for the cat back.

The 76-year-old said: “I told them to get lost. They left that poor cat for dead, some people are just heartless. They started saying they had health issues so I told them to look after themselves instead of taking it out on the cat.”

Remarkably, the mum and her four kittens are all doing well.

Dave Collings, a volunteer at the Valley Road centre, said: “They are so small at the moment, they haven’t opened their eyes yet and they only make a little meowing sound. They are lovely though, they are all doing well. They should be up for adoption in February time.”

The centre, which has re-homed more than 220 cats this year, is used to people dumping animals.

But usually they ring the door bell.

It has been a busy week with another abandoned pregnant cat giving birth just days earlier.

All five kittens survived but one, named Rambo by the helpers, has been rejected by his mother because he is so small. Mr Collings added: “It is so busy at the moment and we need all the help we can get.”

To volunteer, donate or to adopt one of the many cats or kittens at the centre call 01273 422721 or visit lostcatsbrighton.org.uk.