RSPCA investigating after defenceless kitten beaten and 'tortured with hot water'

The RSPCA says it believes a defenceless kitten found wondering alone and injured on a building site may have been beaten and tortured with boiling water. The charity confirmed an urgent investigation was now underway.

Named 'Binx' after the black cat in the Disney movie Hocus Pocus, the young male is now recovering after treatment and remains in the care of the RSPCA. They said they believe he may have been tortured over a long period of time.

Binx - who is eight months-old - was found with various burns across his body and a head injury wandering around a building site in the Failsworth area of Oldham.

In a statement, the RSPCA said: "After a couple of days of trying some workmen managed to safely capture the injured cat and took him to the Bury, Oldham and district branch of the RSPCA on Tuesday, October 11.

"The black feline had an obvious injury to his face and eye and burns on his body so was taken by RSPCA inspector Jess Pierce to the charity's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for veterinary treatment.

"Staff at the hospital shaved some of the kitten's fur to assess the burns and treat them - which was when the full extent of the injuries were revealed. A vet said the burns were of differing ages so believes the poor puss, now nicknamed Binx from the film Hocus Pocus, had been abused on a number of occasions over a period of time.

"The head injury also appears to be non accidental and inspector Pierce is now investigating to try and trace the person responsible."

Insp Pierce said: "When I took Binx to the hospital I could see small white lines on his fur where there were some burns across his body - but when he was shaved the true horror of these injuries was revealed. Veterinary staff said the scalding burns