CATS Protection are urgently seeking homes for a particular type of 'working' cat - of which there is currently a population explosion - with several kittens needing to find homes urgently.

A spokeswoman told the Review: "These 'semi-domesticated' cats are not pets as such, but they make great 'rodent operatives' for farms, smallholdings, allotments or stables – anywhere where they can be given to make a 'den' from where they will direct their mousing and ratting operations. They are not suitable as house cats as they are not fully domesticated. As 'working cats' they can be quite timid, but there is no question they are terrific mousers! They just need feeding twice a day and a dry place to sleep.

"Before we let any cat out to a new home they are given a full vetinary examination to find, and sort out, any health issues that may exist. Then they are neutered, and vaccinated against flu, enteritis and lukaemia, and finally they are microchipped. In fact Cats Protection spends, on average, over £100 on every cat that we home - which is why we always need donations of money or goods for the Forest Cat shop that we run on Newerne Street in Lydney."

Several different individual kittens are available now, with some pair of kittens also available, that the charity hope can be rehomed together.

Prospective owners should contact Cats Protection on 01594 841511.