A fluffy trio of kittens found themselves with a rather unusual father figure after being abandoned by their mother on St Patrick’s day.

Named Seamus, Shamrock and Macpanda - in tribute to their date of birth - the three little kittens have been taken under the caring paw of Rockne the dog after being found abandoned behind a cafe in St Margarets.

On finding the meowing kittens, believed to be no more than 12 hours old, a staff member called Hounslow Animal Welfare (Haws) who came and rescued the little ones and took them to Pet Care, in Chiswick, to be checked over.

Haws trustee Roz Hayward-Butt said: “They were lucky little kittens.

“They were cold and were getting colder by the minute.”

Luckily the three little ones showed they were fighters and were handed over to Haws volunteer Juliette Thomlinson, from Richmond, who has been sharing caring responsibilities with her neighbour and their 12-year-old rescue dog Rockne.

However this old dog has not learned a new trick - as he is an experienced foster parent having helped raise an array of animals including pigs and even baby raccoons when he lived in America.

Mrs Tomlinson said: “He’s an elderly dog and very well behaved.

“We put the kittens on him and he gives them a clean up. That’s part of what there mother would do and helps the whole digestive process.

“They need feeding every two hours, day and night, but he sleeps through some of the night feeds like any typical dad.”

Yet Rockne can be forgiven for feeling a little bit slow as he is recovering from having a kidney removed just two weeks ago.

The kittens will stay with their foster dog until they are nine weeks old when a permanent home will be sought.

The charity is caring for several litters of motherless kittens and has stressed the importance of people getting their cats neuterd to prevent unwanted litters.

Haws, which cares for unwanted animals from across the Hounslow and Richmond boroughs, are also desperately seeking both permanent and foster homes for cats of all ages, rabbits, guinea pigs and even stick insects.

To enquire about adopting or volunteering for Haws call 020 8560 5443 or visit haws-animals.org.uk.