An elderly widower is desperately seeking new homes for his beloved 29 cats after becoming overwhelmed by their upkeep.

The 80-year-old, who lives on a smallholding on the outskirts of Canterbury, recently lost his wife and is struggling to care for the moggies.

He approached the RSPCA's Canterbury and District Rehoming Centre and the charity is now appealing for cat lovers to take on one or more of the animals.

Animal care supervisor Ashen Oleander says people with space on farms, smallholdings, stables or large gardens with outdoor shelters would be ideal.

"All they want is food, water and shelter," she said.

"We're looking for outdoor homes as it's the life they're used to.

"They come to get fed. Some of them are used to the gentleman but anyone else they get very anxious."

'He wants them to go to a happy home' - Ashen Oleander

She says the man and his wife began with just a couple of stable cats, but more started gravitating to their smallholding.

"Being very kind people they started feeding them as well," she said.

"The ones they could trap they got neutered, but some of them they couldn't trap and so they had kittens and so on and the situation got out of control.

"He wants them to go to a happy home.

"We haven't got space at the centre to bring all 29 in so we're trying to do it in stages."

Eight have been taken into the centre in Westbere and found homes, but 21 are still on the smallholding.

"We are working with him to trap and neuter and find new outdoor homes for each and every one so the quicker we find them the quicker we can help him," said Ms Oleander.

"He's having to look after them on his own."

Branch secretary Natalie Archer added: “All the cats will have been neutered and had vet checks before being re-homed.

"Although they wouldn’t thrive in a domestic environment they do have big personalities and some don’t mind being stroked.”

If you could become a cat guardian or know someone who could be one contact the branch on 01227 719113, email info@rspca-canterbury.org.uk or visit rspca-canterbury.org.uk/home

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