A kitten videoed being thrown against a ceiling by two teenage girls when it was eight-weeks-old is recovering at a loving new home.

The girls, who are both from Sheppey, appeared at Maidstone Youth Court to each face a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The case was brought by the RSPCA, which was made aware of the sick act after the girls posted a video of themselves on Facebook throwing the cat around a room.

While being thrown around, the female tortoiseshell hit the ceiling and was knocked unconscious - before she was thrown violently around another two times.

"the girls' commentary on the video also shows they find this action to be hilariously funny...” – rspca spokesman

Amazingly, the animal was not seriously injured and was taken to a vet after police seized her.

The vet who examined her said the kitten would have suffered fear, distress and physical pain.The feline was signed over to be cared for by the RSPCA and has now been rehomed off the Isle of Sheppey.

She is now around seven months old and said to be fit, happy and healthy.

The girls, both from Minster and who cannot be named, pleaded guilty and have each been given a nine-month referral order; disqualified from keeping any animal for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs, which will be paid to the charity.

The girls were sentenced at Maidstone Youth Court

An RSPCA spokesman said: "This was shocking footage of young girls violently throwing an eight-week-old kitten around.

"The girls' commentary on the video also shows they find this action to be hilariously funny.

"The abuse of a young animal purely for entertainment cannot be tolerated.

"Miraculously, the kitten survived its ordeal without any serious injury and has since be rehomed with a loving new family where she continues to be happy and healthy."

A 16-year-old from Eastchurch denied a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and aiding and abetting others to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal and will appear at Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday, May 27.