Cats Protection’s Lanarkshire Branch is now taking good care of Taz as he begins his long road to recovery, and is appealing for donations towards his vet bills.

The three-year-old had been hanging around a local smallholding, where a kind lady had been feeding him.

He disappeared for a several weeks and when he turned up in a neighbour’s garden he was in a terrible state.

He was rushed to the vets, where he was diagnosed with chemical burns.

“We believe it is likely that he put his head into some kind of agricultural chemicals as he had been spotted on a local farm,” said branch co-ordinator Alex Thomson.

“Taz has been taken in by one of our fosterers, who has been offering him plenty of TLC, as well as painstakingly applying antibiotic cream to affected areas every day. This has been painful and difficult for him but he has learnt to trust her, and we are starting to see slight improvements.”

Because of the severity of Taz’s injuries he requires ongoing vet treatment.

Volunteers at the Lanarkshire Branch of Cats Protection are hoping that fellow cat-lovers will dig deep to donate after seeing Taz’s plight.

“We don’t often do public appeals but this is a long term and expensive case, but it is worth it as he is the most friendly and affectionate little guy you can imagine, despite his ordeal.”