Adelaide: Seven kittens found ALIVE after being dumped in suitcase in carpark as temperature soared

Seven tiny kittens have been found alive after being dumped in a suitcase in what has been called a Christmas miracle.

Three of the kittens were just three-weeks old and not yet weaned from their mother, while the other four were about 10-weeks old. 

The seven little creatures were found in a zipped up suitcase on Christmas Day morning in a car park in the Adelaide suburb of Athelstone.

A man out walking came across the case at about 8am on Sunday beside the Athelstone Recreation Reserve.

It was fortunate he found them in the morning as later that day the temperature in Adelaide soared to 32C. 

Four of the seven kittens (pictured) found trapped in an abandoned suitcase are about 10-weeks old

The man was horrified to find there were kittens trapped in the suitcase, with the older ones visibly frightened.

The man took the kittens to his house, gave then water and contacted the South Australia branch of the RSPCA.

The three-week-old kittens have to be fed every four hours and so went into temporary foster care with an RSPCA staff member.

The 10-week-old kittens are in good condition and expected to make a full recovery from their terrifying ordeal.

'To be zipped up inside a dark, airless suitcase is such an awful thing for any animal to endure,' said RSPCA rescue officer Nalika van Loenen.

She said that being so young, it's highly likely the kittens would have died in the Christmas Day heat if they not found when they were.

'It is both shockingly cruel and unnecessary, when there are humane options to surrender unwanted animals to a reputable animal welfare organisation like RSPCA or find them new homes,' she told The Advertiser. 

Three of the kittens (pictured) were just three-weeks old and not yet weaned from their mother

The dumping of the kittens is being investigated by the RSPCA.

Anyone with information on the case can contact the group on 1300 277 722.

If the person who abandoned the kittens is found, they could face two-years in jail or a $20,000 fine under South Australia's Animal Welfare Act.