Ice the kitten is a cool customer (From Western Telegraph)

Ice the kitten is a cool customer

A Bengal kitten found abandoned in Manorbier when he was only a few days old has been named this year's PDSA Pet Survivor of the Year Wales.

The kitten, Ice, needed emergency treatment from staff at Pembroke's Kingston Veterinary Surgery three times as he fought for life. His adoptive owner, Tiggy Marsden, had to feed him a special milk mix every 30 minutes, day and night.

Miraculously, in eight weeks Ice had started eating kitten food and was gaining weight. "My mum found Ice under a hedge on Hounsell Avenue," recalled Tiggy. "The poor little guy was near enough dead. He was starving, dehydrated and anaemic."

Ice suffered bouts of toxic shock and on one occasion 'died' at the Veterinary Surgery when his heart stopped beating.

"He was touch and go for weeks," said Tiggy. "For about ten days I kept him in my bra to try and keep him warm. It was also the easiest way of keeping an eye on him!" Ice - who is now perfectly healthy and almost a year old - seems unscathed by his difficult start.

The PDSA Pet Survivor of the Year Award, now in its tenth year, is a tribute to Ice, the constant care given by owner Tiggy and the life-saving skills of the team at Kingston Veterinary Surgery.

CAPTION: Tiggy Marsden (left) with Ice and vet assistant Jane Hanily. PICTURE: Western Telegraph WTNO1136H03.