KITTENS dumped in airless boxes and puppies left on doorsteps are becoming a regular occurrence as the economic downturn hits Waltham Forest.

The RSCPA has recorded a sharp rise in the number of abandoned cats in Greater London, and a Chingford pet rescuer blames the high cost of vet bills for her being inundated with abandoned furry friends.

Maria Miller, 54, opened the “Little Darlings” pet rescue from her home, nine months ago and said irresponsible owners are not getting their pets neuteured or spade because of the expense.

She said: “There is a lot of it going on at the moment. It is very upsetting. Vet bills are very expensive and people don’t realise that it can cost hundreds of pounds. People should realise what they are taking on.”

Ms Miller, who works in conjunction with the St Francis Animal Sanctuary in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, said that an appointment with a veterinary doctor can cost £30 a time with medication on top, and not all pet owners take out insurance to cover the cost.

“The most important thing is to get the animal spade or neuteured, otherwise we get kittens dumped and ferral kittens running all over the place," she said.

Among some of the grim discoveries of animal cruelty Ms Miller has come across was two black puppies left close to starvation near a recycling bin in Leyton.

She also recently re-homed five kittens left in an airless cardboard box in Simmons Lane, each suffering from cat flu.

She said this is typical of owners who do not want to cough up for costly veterinary bills.

The RSPCA believes that the rise in the number of rescued cats, above the usual rise in the summer - could also be down to owners not getting their pets microchipped so they can be traced to their owner if lost.

RSPCA regional superintendent Paul Stilgoe said: “While the majority of owners are responsible, we still see people going away and not making provisions for their pet - together with those who do not want to pay for vetinary care and abandon or give up sick animals. We are appealing for owners to have their pets microchipped - it could really mean the difference between losing them forever or having them safely home.”