FOUR cats at an RSPCA animal centre in Kent are so fat that they have been put on strict New Year diets by staff.

Fred, Abbie, Perda and Lennox are looking for new homes where they can get plenty of exercise to help them drop the pounds.

The cats are all at the RSPCA East Kent Animal Centre near Birchington on the Isle of Thanet and weigh 22 kilos between them.

The staff at the centre having been following advice from TV vet Joe Ingliss on the RSPCA website have been given target weights to reach and they will be monitored closely over the next few weeks.

Abbie, is a nine-year-old white and tortoiseshell female and weighs 5.24 kg. Perda is an eight-year-old male tabby and weighs 5.58 kg, Lennox (named after the boxer due to his size) is a five- year-old ginger and white male weighing 6.03 kg. Fred is a 10-year-old tabby male weighing 4.84 kg.

Animal centre acting manager, Andrew Kirby said: "These cats are all very overweight, but with the correct diet and with plenty of exercise when they find new homes they should be fit and healthy before long."

RSPCA East Kent Animal Centre opened in 2007 after years of fundraising by the Isle of Thanet Branch of the RSPCA. The Animal Centre is open everyday except Wednesday between 12pm and 2pm. Directions can be found on our website www.rspcakent.org.uk.

For more information about adopting a cat call 01843 826180