The one year old ginger and white tom cat was discovered by a member of the public on Friday morning (23 April) on Invertiel Terrace with burns to his face and body.

The concerned passer by picked up the cat and rushed it to a local vet, who contacted us for help.

Senior Inspector John Chisholm arrived and took the cat to one of our vets where he received treatment for his terrible injuries. He is now being made comfortable at our Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

Senior Inspector Chisholm said, "This poor cat has been badly burned and is lucky to have survived.

"We hope his injuries are not the result of some kind of attack, but vet examination indicates he has been scorched by a blast of searing heat, possibly from an ignited aerosol or similar.

"His ear tips are worst affected, but he is also badly singed over most of his coat and his face and ears were very swollen.

This poor cat was found badly burned in Kirkcaldy"He has a small fracture to his jaw and scuffed claws, which are often an indication of being involved in a road traffic accident. However, it is possible that these injuries have been caused by him struggling to get away from something.

"He was not wearing a collar when he was found and he is not identity microchipped so we haven't been able to trace his owner.

"We are urgently appealing for information and witnesses to help us with our enquiries into what appears to have been a deliberate act of cruelty towards a defenceless animal."

Anyone with information relating to the cat should contact our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.