TINSEL the kitten almost lost all of her lives before they began.

Her story started when she was discarded by her semi-persian mother, who gave birth on the lounge floor where she lives.

The astonished owner, who had no idea the cat was pregnant, found a kitten still in the amniotic sac, which usually either bursts or the mother licks away.

But the mother cat showed no interest at all in her offspring.

Not sure how to help the bedraggled animal, the owner gently removed the sac and rushed it around to Rebecca Hefford in St Mary.

Rebecca has rescued animals before, including a cat sent from the UK to the Quality of Life Animal Sanctuary after attempts were made to drown it.

The kitten weighed just 30 grams when the owner handed it over to Rebecca, who placed her on a heated mat near the stove and started feeding her supplements regularly through a syringe.

Over the weeks, the kitten, named Tinsel because of her seasonal arrival, received dedicated care and attention and was kept warm in a bed of covers in the family’s dog basket.

Seven weeks on, the delightful grey feline, which is now on solid food, weighs 280 grams and is making good progress.