IN PICTURES: A case for the meow-natal department – Mummy cat and kittens rescued at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in week-long effort

Mission complete (this time for real) ... Billy White (left) and Richard Gatenby, from the estates and facilities team, leading figures in the rescue, with the final kitten.

That was certainly the case with one feline mum-to-be who sparked a week-long rescue effort after having kittens on the roof of Boston Pilgrim Hospital’s breast unit.

For about six weeks, the fluffy family went undetected until a member of staff heard a ‘meow’ while walking up a flight of stairs. Preliminary investigations revealed not just a cat, but three kittens as well.

Staff from the estates and facilities team then set to work on rescuing the furry foursome, aided by humane traps.

The mother was caught the next day and nicknamed ‘Ruth’ inspired by where she had been found. However, with the kittens nowhere to be seen Ruth was released so she could care for her offspring.

The next day, the mission appeared complete when Ruth was found in one of the traps and three kittens in another.

However, after news of the rescue was shared on a staff Facebook page a photograph was posted showing a litter of six kittens, not three.

Armed with this new information, the estates and facilities team returned to the roof and would go on to rescue the remaining kittens over several days, with the last one found soaked from heavy rain.

One month on, the magni-fur-cent seven all have a roof over their heads rather than under their paws ...

‘Ruth’ is now Rosie and is currently being fostered by a volunteer from Lincs Ark Animal Welfare.

One of her male kittens, David, is also being fostered by the charity. David, unfortunately, had to have two toes amputated, but does not appear to have been fazed by the loss and is said to be getting on with the ‘day-to-day mischief of being a kitten’. He has made friends with another foster kitten, Harry, and it has been decided they should be re-homed together.

The other five kittens have been adopted by hospital colleagues.

The picture that revealed three more kittens needed to be found after the mission initially appeared complete.

Annie Theed, Macmillan Breast Cancer Care co-ordinator, is one such worker, having taken on Beau (so called ‘because he is beautiful’).

She paid tribute to the ‘caring and determined nature’ of the estates and facilities team and also the work of Lincs Ark Animal Welfare.

“If it wasn’t for charities such as Lincs Ark Animal Welfare the two cats being fostered and many more with stories like theirs wouldn’t be able to receive the care and medical attention that they need,” she said.

She encourages anyone interested in adopting Rosie, David and Harry, or any other cat in the care of Lincs Ark Animal Welfare to contact the charity on 07960 182728 or [email protected].

She has also set up an online appeal in aid of the cause – find it at gofundme.com by searching for Pilgrim Hospital cats.