Rachel said the kids were seen throwing Griffin into a bin (Picture: SWNS)

A gang of cruel youths were spotted throwing a beloved pet cat into a bin, his owner has claimed.

Rachel Craft, 27, was left horrified after learning a group of yobs had dumped her much-loved moggie Griffin into a litter bin before trying to launch him into a river.

The 18-month-old puss is adored by locals in Canterbury who have affectionately nicknamed him ‘The Sainsbury’s Cat’ as he often greets supermarket shoppers.

But last week a gang of youths captured the friendly kitty and chucked him into a bin after ‘throwing him around like a ragdoll’.

The group then went to heartlessly dump the cat into the River Stour but they were bravely confronted by a passer-by who rescued Griffin and rushed him to the vets.

Griffin was ‘thrown around like a ragdoll’ one witness said (Picture: SWNS)

Rachel was ‘horrified’ when she was told what happened to her cat (Picture: SWNS)

A gang of youths tried to throw Griffin into the river (Picture: Rachel Craft / SWNS)

Mum-of-one Rachel was contacted by the vets to fetch Griffin and Essex Police has now launched an investigation.

Rachel, a psychology student, said: ‘I felt pure panic as soon as they told me what had happened.

‘They were throwing him around.

‘They were putting him into the bin and trying to throw him in the river.

‘She [a passer-by] just stepped in and took him from them.

‘How would you feel if someone did that to you? I mean animals have feelings. They’re just like us.

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‘If anything Griffin probably would have approached them because he is just so friendly and likes to meet everybody and they’ve just taken advantage of that.

‘It’s just disgusting.’

Griffin was rescued by the charity Bid to Save a Stray as a kitten from Romania and adopted by Rachel and her family over a year ago.

She said he’s been targeted by yobs before – and believes it to be the same children.

She added: ‘The first time was a few months ago and the fact that this is now not an isolated incident makes me so worried for his future wellbeing.

‘I’d like to massively thank the kind lady who approached these kids and took my cat safely to the vets.

‘I have been told that the police have been informed but I have also contacted them myself as something needs to be done about this.’

A Kent Police spokesman said officers were investigating reports ‘that a group of boys had been seen putting a cat into a bin in Kingsmead Coach Park’

They added: ‘Enquiries are being carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

‘Anyone with information should call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/202666/22.’

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The cat was saved by a passer-by who stepped in when she saw the youths throwing Griffin around.