A much-loved moggie known as the "Sainsbury's cat" was thrown in a bin by a gang of youths.

The yobs then attempted to lob poor Griffin into the nearby River Stour in Canterbury.

The beautiful grey and white cat has become a "little celebrity" at the Kingsmead Road supermarket, where he scampers around the car park and chases mice along the river.

But on Wednesday evening a group of teenage louts began to taunt Griffin, with witnesses saying they were “chucking him around like a rag doll”.

Their abuse continued as they threw the 18-month-old tom into a nearby litter bin.

Luckily, before they could follow through with their next cruel act, dumping the cat into the river, a member of the public stepped in and rescued him.

Police are now investigating.

Griffin's owner, Rachel Craft, told KentOnline: “I had a phone call at about 6.45pm from the local vets telling me that Griff had been handed in by a lady who witnessed him being terrorised by a group of kids.

“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."

Thankfully, the abused cat did not require any veterinary treatment but Miss Craft fears he suffered psychological damage.

“I saw him shut down - it’s so unlike him," the 27-year-old said. "It was just horrible.”

Miss Craft, who rescued Griffin a year ago from Romania through charity Bid to Save a Stray, says this is not the first time he has been targeted.

In August a woman knocked on Rachel’s door to tell her that she had seen her moggy being “terrorised” by a group of delinquents.

She said the incident made her feel “extremely worried and sickened” - and her fear has only grown since the second attack.

Miss Craft, of Mill Lane, said: “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.”

On what she would say to the thugs that targeted her precious pet, Miss Craft said: “How would you feel if someone did that to you? I mean animals have feelings. They're just like us

“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 is well-known in the area due to his sweet and friendly but also adventurous nature.

When Rachel Craft posted on social media about the incidents there was a rush of people who recognised the cat and sent him well wishes.

One person described Griffin as the “highlight” of their trips to Sainsbury’s.

Miss Craft said: “He chases rats into the river. He comes for walks with me and the dogs.

"Yesterday morning, before this happened, he followed us to nursery and he actually followed us into my daughter’s classroom and spent about 20 minutes in there being stroked by all the kids.”

Miss Craft says she will keep Griffin inside for a few days to keep an eye on him but that he's an outdoor cat at heart and she won’t let “a couple of horrible kids” ruin that for him.

“You think you’re bringing them to a nice safe home and then this happens," she added.

“He has so many people that regularly stop and see him and kids that like to stroke him.

"I think everyone would miss him if he didn’t hang around there any more."

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

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.