When Nugget arrived at our rescue centre on 3 June, he was terrified.

Just hours after we opened that morning, a local worker contacted us about two tiny kittens who had been abandoned on a nearby industrial estate. Three days earlier, they had been found shut inside a crate alongside an adult cat believed to be their mother. When the crate was opened so they could be fed, all three fled in panic.

The mother cat was never seen again.

For days, kind hearted workers kept watch, hoping to gain the trust of the frightened kittens and bring them to safety. Eventually, they succeeded.

The kittens, now named Buttons and Nugget, arrived scared, hungry and underweight. While Buttons needed only a little care and reassurance, Nugget's condition was heartbreaking.

This brave little kitten had a partially severed tail with a painful open wound and a severely deformed back leg. Every step he took caused discomfort, and the damaged leg had already developed sores from dragging along the ground.

At first, veterinarians believed Nugget would likely lose both his tail and his leg. But Nugget had other plans.

Thanks to intensive veterinary treatment and dedicated care, his tail has begun to heal far better than anyone expected. The wound is improving, and we are hopeful he will be able to keep his tail. Sadly, his damaged leg could not be saved, and Nugget recently underwent surgery to remove it.

Today, Nugget is beginning to recover from his surgery and is showing us just how determined he is. Despite everything he has been through, he still greets us with curiosity and a gentle spirit.

We don't know how his story began, but we do know how we'd like it to end: safe, loved, and surrounded by people who care when he is eventually adopted.

If you'd like to be part of Nugget's journey, any support you can give will help us continue providing the care he needs as he takes his next steps towards a brighter future.

Cats Protection help more cats than any other organisation and we want to help millions more. We are a dedicated community of passionate employees, volunteers, supporters and partners, working together to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

We are the voice of cats in society and we speak up for their protection.

We’re working towards a society where every cat is treated with kindness and respect.

Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Find out more: www.cats.org.uk