This is the hilarious moment a pet shop owner battled to keep putting a group of lively kittens inside a cage.

The keeper was attempting to transfer five energetic felines into the green enclosure when they began escaping from the crate in Chongqing, China.

Footage shows the man crouching on the floor and putting on a glove before removing the kittens from their temporary carrier on April 30.

He opened the first container, which held two cats, and carefully placed them inside the cage.

Noticing the pair trying to bolt, he quickly shut the grill and moved on to retrieve the remaining three from another carrier.

Once all five kittens were inside, chaos erupted as the playful escape artists began slipping through the gaps, forcing the staff member to scoop them up repeatedly while trying to keep the enclosure shut.

A couple of amused customers entering the shop were seen laughing at the comical scene.

Ms Wang, the owner of the pet shop recalled that she found the five kittens in a cardboard box at the store's door.

She said: 'I immediately carried them into the store and wrapped them in towels to keep them warm and feed them.

'At that time, I was really anxious, for fear that I would not be able to take care of these little lives.'

Ms Wang are currently finding the cats their forever home.

She added: 'In order to ensure that the kittens can be properly cared for, adopters will be strictly screened, and in addition to signing an adoption agreement, regular return visits will be made.'