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In a spin: Cat gives birth to kittens inside tumble dryer

A stray cat almost got herself in a spin after giving birth to a litter of kittens - inside a tumble dryer.



The cat was found by owner Patrick Ambrose, 44, snuggled with her five kittens inside the drum as he went to load his dryer last week. The cat lover had taken in the stray after finding her wandering around in his back garden.

But he was stunned to discover five new additions to his household when he arrived home from work on Tuesday. The electrical engineer now plans to name the five kittens Whirlpool, Bosch, Hotpoint, Zanussi and Beko - after famous tumble dryer brands.

“It was warm and dark in there and she had made herself comfortable on a towel that was in there,” said Patrick, from Erdington, Birmingham. “Cats are said to have a sixth sense so she obviously felt at home in my house.”

Patrick had originally set up a birthing box in his conservatory but the cat had other ideas about where she wanted to bring the kittens into the world. He eventually hopes to re-home the kittens and said he would continue to look after mother.

“She’s been with me for years and has gone blind, but she doesn’t seem to have a problem with the new arrivals,” he said. “I am so glad I have been able to help because they would not have survived if they were left as strays. It’s obvious someone previously had the mum as a pet because she had been well looked after. I hope people will take them on.”


Patrick previously had the feline checked by the charity Cats Protection after being unable to find it a home immediately.

Cats Protection volunteer Shaki McFarland said: “She was huge. She looked like she had swallowed two rugby balls. It's not the safest place but luckily they were all ok. We will arrange to have the mother spayed and we’ll get the kittens immunised before we try to find them a home."