A stray cat has given birth to five adorable kittens in north-west London and their names are bound to get you feline in the Halloween spirit.

Mayhew's animal welfare officers brought in the stray pregnant tabby, now named Bellatrix, after she was discovered earlier this month.

The cat welfare coordinator at Mahew, Georgina Disney, said when she arrived they knew she was pregnant and their vet team made sure she was in good health.

“We quickly settled her into a warm and cosy cabin and tried to make her as comfortable and stress-free as possible,” she said.

“It also became very apparent that Bellatrix was a domesticated cat, she was friendly and enjoyed lots of fuss and cat treats from the team.

“Six days later she gave birth to a little of five kittens in our cattery – if she hadn't been brought into Mayhew, the kittens would have ended up being born outside and would have likely become feral.”

As Halloween is looming the team decided to name the kittens after Harry Potter creatures and we can't help but let them Slytherin to our hearts.

The five little kittens are now named Crookshanks, Mrs Norris, Buckbeak, Fawkes and Fang.

These adorable kittens have been named after Harry Potter characters

Speaking after their birth, animal welfare officer at Mayhew, AJ Ford, said: “This story highlights how important it is to get your pet neutered.

“We see hundreds of unwanted kittens coming into our home all year round and it is a growing problem.

“We encourage pet owners to get their animals neutered and offer low cost and affordable neutering for cats and dogs at our vet clinic.

“At Mayhew we are dedicated to helping people in crisis situations, we do not judge and we are here to assist and advise on the best course of action for the animal.”

Bellatrix was taken in by Mayhew officers this month

Mayhew also runs Pick & Snip, a project which offers free neutering for cats and kittens for vulnerable owners, who are unable to neuter their cats due to cost, disability, apathy or transport availability.

They collect and neuter cats within their designated catchment area of the M25.

A Mayhew spokesman added: “Once the kittens are old enough to leave their mum and they have all been neutered and vaccinated, they’ll be ready to find new loving homes.

“They are sure to put a spell on your heart, so keep an eye on Mayhew’s website for when they are ready for adoption.”

If you or anyone you know needs to speak to a Mayhew Animal Welfare Officer or to find more about the Pick & Snip scheme, then you can call 020 8962 8000.

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