Ayr couple Shirley and Neil are mum to 10 kittens.

Sep 9 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

MEET Scruffy, Blacky, Tabby, Tabs, Moonlight, Bubbles, Squeek, Runt, Fluffy black and Fluffy grey.

And not forgetting their surrogate parents Neil Smith and Shirley Pitt.

For the caring couple spend hours every day washing, feeding and toileting these three-week-old kittens.

The cute cats were left without a mum when she collapsed during labour and had to be put to sleep.

Against the odds, all 10 of the babies have survived. And they are thriving thanks to the love and dedication of Neil and Shirley.

Both Cats Protection and the SSPCA have been left in awe of the couple, who take turns on the night shift.

Shirley explained: “We were told they probably wouldn’t survive the night but that just made us even more determined to keep them and do the best we could by them.

“At first they had to be washed and cleaned every two hours and it took us an hour and a half to go through the process.

“Now they only need fed every three hours and we’ve got it all down to about half an hour.

“It’s hard work, but so rewarding to see them thriving.”

Shirley and Neil have been given a helping hand by the other youngsters in their lives – their four sons Jack, 10, Shaun, 8, Daniel, 6, and Stephen, 4.

The boys have all been taking turns to play with and feed the new pets.

Shirley continued: “It’s turned out really well because it’s a great way of teaching the boys about responsibility and how to be caring and considerate.”

But it’s bitter sweet for the Ayr family.

Neil explained: “Their mum Stitch went into labour at 10am and finished about 3pm. She had some food and had started feeding the kittens, but at 5pm the next day she collapsed. We took her to the vet who said she still had two kittens inside her but she was exhausted. The kindest thing to do was to put her down. She done her best by the kittens and managed to feed them so she got all the antibodies into their systems. It was like losing a member of the family but this has given us something to focus on.

“We’re keeping Tabby because it looks like Stitch.”

But the family’s trauma didn’t end there.

Neil continued: “About a week later Tom, the kittens’ dad, jumped out the kitchen window of our second floor flat. We think he must have been pining for Stitch and trying to go looking for her.

“We took him to the vet but he was absolutely fine.”

Shirley and Neil will keep the kittens together for another six weeks before they are rehomed. And it’s no surprise that they have already found loving homes for each irresistible kitten.