The cats were found by a dog walker near Derby Road in Brampton early in the morning and were taken into Chesterfield Animal Centre, where they have been named Percy and Joe.

They had been left in a hooded cat litter box, across which a metal grill had been tied so they could not escape.

Percy is a black and white cat and Joe is a tabby who only has one eye. It is not known how long the pair had been there, but they are both healthy and quite friendly, although a little timid. Neither cat had a collar or microchip.

RSPCA inspector Mike Scargill said: "We are hoping that someone will recognise Joe as he is quite distinctive and has lost an eye sometime in the past. If their owner genuinely felt unable to care for them, they should have contacted an animal welfare organisation for help.

"I still find it strange that some pet owners have so little regard for their animals' safety that they would just dump them."

Anyone with information about this incident or who knows the cats' owner should contact the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 1234 999.