A CAT was discovered by refuse collectors at the brink of death after it was thrown out with the rubbish.  

The male black cat, who has been named Asher, was found by Wyre Forest bin operatives on Wednesday (November 8) in a Peppa Peg fabric toy box with a cot piled on top of him, in what has been branded a "calculated, premeditated and abhorrent act of cruelty."

They rushed Asher into the care of volunteers at Stourbridge's RSPCA branch, who were advised by vets to euthanise him because he was "riddled with fleas, anaemic, emaciated and dehydrated."

Thankfully he has undergone a miraculous transformation, has put on weight and is now on the mend.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Asher has put on weight and is making a miraculous recovery after his horrific ordeal Asher has put on weight and is making a miraculous recovery after his horrific ordeal (Image: Handout)

A post on The Stourbridge and District branch's facebook page said: "When we say we have pulled this boy back from the brink of death, we are not saying it lightly.

"He was hours away from perishing in the cold, starved to within an inch of his life, cast aside in a fabric storage toy box ‘coffin’ with a cot on top placed on top of him.

"Hidden from sight and placed by the bins, no doubt on the hope no-one would see when loading the rubbish into the truck for disposal.

"This was a calculated, premeditated and abhorrent act of cruelty on a poor defenceless old cat, who was so poorly he couldn’t even muster the strength to make a sound.

"He couldn’t even let anyone know he was there.

"Our heartfelt thank you to the incredible bin operatives of Wyre Forest District Council Waste Disposal, who without them, he wouldn’t be here now.

"Thank you for calling us and thank you for racing him to our vets for urgent care.

"We will never be able to express our thanks enough."

Asher is now in foster care in his own room with volunteers saying "we will show him what true love is, he will want for nothing."

Kidderminster Shuttle: The box Asher was dumped in with piles of rubbish piled on top The box Asher was dumped in with piles of rubbish piled on top (Image: Handout)

Wyre Forest District Council said in a post after an outpouring of emotion from animal lovers on social media: "Thank you for your reactions to this heart tugging story.

"We're keeping a close eye on this little cat's progress.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Asher has been sent his own igloo and toys by Ginger Cat CraftsAsher has been sent his own igloo and toys by Ginger Cat Crafts (Image: Handout)

"We're thrilled to have played a part in saving this little life, we look forward to hearing that Asher is going from strength to strength."

Branch Branch chair Liz Cormell said it could not reveal where exactly Asher was found as an investigation is underway by RSPCA inspectors to try to discover who is responsible for his suffering. She said the branch is in desperate need of funds to meet its extensive vets bills.

Its fundraising Facebook page is called The Crafty Moggy - Raising Funds for Stourbridge & District RSPCA and is holding a fundraising craft fair at the Bonded Warehouse in Stourbridge on Saturday December 9 from 10am till 4pm.

Donations can be made to the branch via PayPal to rspca.stourbridge@gmail.com (friends and family option) or via CAF Bank RSPCA Stourbridge & District Branch a/c 00034776 sort code 40-52-40.