BOSTON -- Two kittens were found on a Mattapan porch covered in oil and grease and animal rights activists fear it may be part of a summer trend.
Investigators said they are trying to figure out if these injuries were intentionally caused or an accident.
"We think they were actually covered with this for several days if not longer before they were found so it really had time to set on their fur," said Brian Adams of the MSPCA.
The two kittens, Grease and Monkey, have to be washed several times a day to try to remove the oil and grease from their skin.
Officials at the MSPCA said that as temperatures go up, so do claims of animal abuse. During the summer months, a spike of 33 percent is seen in animal cruelty reports.
"We believe that is due sometimes to the heat, just the general temperature outside, people neglecting to feed and water their pets, as well as providing them shelter, in other cases we also suspect it's because people are out and about more," Adams said.
The cats are expected to survive, but some of the cats' hair had to be shaved off, some of it fell off and one of the cats tail might have to be cut off.
"They have been through several bathings; it will actually seal up the fur, cut off any air to the fur and prevent any sort of breathing for the skin, which is why with Grease here we are very concerned about his tail whether or not the flesh has survived the trauma," Adams said.
The MSPCA is looking into whether the cats had an owner and if there was an incident of animal cruelty.
If they do not find an owner, Grease and Monkey will be put up for adoption next week.
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