The ROYAL Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) are appealing for information after four cats were abandoned in a box in Bracknell.

The two male and two female cats were discovered by a member of the public in the Lexicon car park on Saturday, February 23.

Lauren Evans, the RSPCA inspector who collected the cats is now investigating how they were abandoned.

She said: “The caller who found these cats said they were dumped in a cat carrier inside a cardboard box near to the shopping centre.

“None of them are microchipped and they are all young adults, possibly from the same litter.“

The cats were frightened and nervous when they were found but were healthy.

Ms Evans added: “When I first saw them they were extremely nervous and frightened but once I took them to RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital for care they had calmed down a little bit and are now coming out of their shell.”

Staff at RSPCA have named the cats found, the two chocolate coloured cats have been named Galaxy and Cadbury, the black and white cat has been named Liquorice and the black female cat has been named Jackie.

Ms Evans said: "Sadly, we do see many unwanted cats coming into our care. Last year, the RSPCA rescued 22,000 cats, that’s 60 cats every day, cats like these four who were cruelly abandoned because somebody no longer wanted them.

"There is never an excuse to abandon an animal in this way. We understand that people’s circumstances can change but there are always charities and organisations like us that can help. Dumping pets is not the solution.”

The RSPCA are urging anyone with information about how the cats were abandoned to contact them on 0300 123 8018.