A lucky-to-be-alive kitten stamped on by his sadistic ex-owner finally has someone to love him.
Dylan had broken ribs, his hip and also fractures to his tail.
Vets who examined him said the injuries were consistent with being stamped on and kicked.
The poor puss also had burns on his little feet.
Sadly, he was the only survivor as two other moggies in the house died after being abused there.
The sick pair of Rotherham also had an eight-week-old baby cat, which was taken from them.
She could not be saved after being rushed to the vets after she collapsed.
Just a month earlier, another kitten – the same age – died after suffering a broken jaw.
The attacks took place in June 2023.
Post-mortem examinations revealed they had numerous broken bones, a severe skull injury and burns to their feet, too.
But luckily, Dylan underwent surgery for his broken hip and was given pain relief and placed in the care of the RSPCA’s Chesterfield and North Derbyshire branch.
Lynsey Harris, RSPCA Chief Inspector for South Yorkshire, said: “The injuries sustained to Dylan were awful.
“He was a tiny kitten, but with so many fractures to his body, which had clearly happened at different times, as some had almost healed on their own.
“It was a really sad case to deal with, and sadly, two other kittens in the household died.
“And I am just thankful we were able to save Dylan and get him on the road to recovery.
Dylan has now put his horrific past behind him and is loving life with his new owner, Susan, a languages teacher, who lives in Chesterfield, as reported on Need To Know.
She said: “Dylan is a real character, and everyone who comes to visit me loves him.
“He is the biggest and softest cat you can meet and loves to sit on people’s laps once he has got to know them.
“I was told about his past, and it is really upsetting to hear about.
“But he has certainly put that behind him and happily goes out for a wander and comes back for food and cuddles.
He is wary of people he doesn’t know, and absolutely hates the doorbell.
“And I have to be careful not to touch his back leg as he isn’t keen on that, which is understandable.
“But he is a real character, and I am so pleased to have him in my life.
Steph McCawley, from the branch, said: “He arrived with us in an awful state.
“Due to his injuries, he had to be put on cage rest to ensure he received the most rest for his leg while it was healing.
“Our animal care staff were amazing with his care and rehabilitation, spending time with him each day to get his strength back.
Dylan’s previous owners were given a lifetime ban on keeping all animals when they appeared in court.
And the man was given a suspended sentence for what the judge described as “deliberate sadistic abuse.”
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