SACO — Police are asking anyone with information regarding a cat that was dropped off on the sidewalk in front of Pet Life in Saco on Sunday to call the animal control officer.

Saco Police reported they were contacted by the Pet Life store at the Saco Valley Shopping Center on Sunday after a male tiger cat was found with a broken leg inside a box and a cat carrier on the sidewalk outside the store.

Police are asking anyone with information on the owner of the cat or circumstances surrounding its injuries or anyone who saw the animal dropped off at the front door of Pet Life to call the animal control officer at 284-4535.

Pet Life associate Jessica Gagne said she was one of the staff who found the cat Sunday morning.

Found outside the store was a covered litter box with a cardboard box inside. Gagne said they took the cover off the litter box and heard a meow sound. Inside a folded-over box was a cat.

She said had they not heard the cat make a noise, they may have discarded the box, thinking it was garbage.

“It looked like trash. He was packaged as trash,” she said.

She said the cat was wrapped in a towel and covered in feces, with duct tape on its mouth, and it seemed to have trouble moving.

She said the cat was emaciated and appeared young, but may have appeared younger than it was because of the condition it was in. Gagne said she’s never seen an animal in such a sad state.

“I’m shaking just talking about it,” she said during a phone interview Tuesday.

Gagne said according to surveillance footage, it appeared the person who left the cat was driving a white truck and dropped the cat off around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Gagne said Another Chance Animal Rescue and police were contacted, and the cat was taken to an emergency care clinic, where a cast was put on its leg.

Saco Police Chief Ray Demers said the cat is currently at the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk.

AWS Director of Development Kerrie Leclair Tuesday afternoon confirmed the cat was at the facility, but declined further comment as the case is under investigation.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.