A "FRIGHTENED" young cat with a broken leg who was taken to the vets to be euthanised has been saved by volunteers.

The owners of eight-month-old Jovi took her to Blacks Vets in Dudley and asked for her to be put to sleep as they couldn't afford her treatment.

The vets called Stourbridge and District RSPCA which took her on and has paid £5k for her to have an operation to put pins and plates to fix the leg.

They said she would have been in "excruciating pain" for a week.

Branch chair Liz Cormell said it is appealing for funds as Jovi will need ongoing vets' treatment and x-rays.

She said the operation is believed to have gone well - but if Jovi's recovery does not go smoothly the leg could have to be amputated.

The branch said on social media: "This poor frightened little sweetheart was taken to our vets this evening by her owners to be euthanised.

"Yes you heard that right, she was driven to our vets and they were told to take away her life.

"She has suffered an awful leg fracture which has been left for 1 week.

"Her owners were unable to get support from another charity as they already had an animal registered there.

"It never ceases to amaze us how many people take on the responsibility of an animal yet fail to provide the financial infrastructure to cover for eventualities such as this, yet time and again charities are pushed to the brink of closure to save their lives.

"Eight months old, not chipped, not spayed, not insured and about three hours ago her life hung in the balance.

"Her leg has been left like this with no bandage or support.

"The pain she must have been in would be excruciating."

Donations can be made 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.