This picture shows three cats “too afraid to move” after they were abandoned in the gutter.

They were “skeleton” thin and covered in urine when eventually discovered in Wentworth Road, Manor Park, and brought to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust rescue shelter.

Within days of the trio being found on Tuesday, February 4, another five similar looking moggies were picked-up in nearby Essex Road and Capel Road — all were found within a mile of each other.

Craig O’Brien, who rescued the first group of cats after finding them in his street, said: “They were clearly huddled there and just too afraid to move.

“They looked fairly plump but when I picked them up there was nothing to them. They were just complete skeletons.

“Underneath their fur was yellow and matted.”

Celia Hammond, who runs the animal trust, said she had never come across a situation like it in nearly 50 years of animal rescue and is concerned there could be more cats out there that have yet to be found.

“When I saw the picture I was completely horrified,” she said.

“I just couldn’t understand what would make three cats just lay in a gutter like that, so afraid they couldn’t move.”

Celia is calling for anyone with more information to step forward.

You can contact the trust, based in Canning Town, by email at canningtown@celiahammond.org or call 020 7474 8811.