Kittens left in a cardboard box on the doorstep of the Northwest Montana Humane Society shelter on U.S. 93 over the Fourth of July holiday clawed their way out and were on the run when shelter officials caught them.

“The box was ripped open. We don’t know how many there were,” shelter office administrator Judy Gasco said. “We caught one; another was found up a pine tree.”

Gasco said abandoning animals is against law, and beyond that, leaving the kittens so close to a busy highway is dangerous.

“We can’t take drop-offs and we don’t take strays,” Gasco further stated. The Humane Society takes owner-surrendered pets after arrangements have been made.

The two kittens, both females, will be ready for adoption in about three weeks. They need vaccinations and must be spayed, Gasco said. Both are under a year old.

“They’re pretty and precious,” she added.