This is one tom cat who had a lucky escape after being abandoned in a shoebox.

He was covered in fleas and had two bite marks in his side.

A resident called the RSPCA after spotting the desperate five-month-old in the box on the pavement in Lowe Close, Crawley.

The kitten was taken to the Arthur Lodge veterinary clinic in Horsham, where staff named him Thomas.

He was scared and timid and staff think he had been bitten by a dog.

But Thomas is getting friendlier by the day as he has started to settle into his temporary home.

RSPCA inspector Melissa Brett said the kitten's owner should have sought immediate medical care and Thomas should not have been left to his fate.

She said: "It is an offence to allow an animal to suffer unnecessarily by failing to seek veterinary treatment and to abandon a pet in this way."

When Thomas has recovered, he will be moved to the RSPCA centre in Patcham, Brighton, where he will be looking for a new home.

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA on 08705 555999.