The black and white cat was found wandering the streets of Holywell, covered in sores.

Rescue workers fear he had been abused by his owners over a long period of time.

Elfyn Pierce-Jones, of the Flintshire Wildlife and Pet Rescue Centre in Holywell, said: "I think this has been done deliberately.

"He has been covered with acid or caustic soda, or some other corrosive substance, and it has burnt deeply into his skin.

"He has got little 50p-size patches scattered all over his back and he is in a really bad way.

"It must have been going on for quite a while for the skin to get in this state.

"At the very least the owner must have known about it and not done anything about it.

"He's a very friendly little thing though and has been very brave."

The cat was found in Holywell's Holway estate last week and was reported to the rescue centre.

Mr Pierce-Jones said animal-cruelty cases were on the rise in Flintshire, and that the cat is just one example.

Other cases include a springer spaniel who was covered in oil and dumped over the gate of the rescue centre.

Mr Pierce-Jones said: "We are being inundated with dumped pets.
"We've always had cases of cruelty but not on the scale we're getting it now.

"We're definitely getting more than normal and it's very worrying."
Anybody who wants to contact the rescue centre should telephone 01352 712345.