ANIMAL lovers are desperately searching for new homes for up to 40 cats discovered in a house.

Staff at Tendring Feral Rescue said they will have to be put down if homes cannot be found.

Staff at the rehoming centre said they would travel as far across the country as possible to find the cats new owners.

Jackie Palfreman, of Tendring Feral Rescue, is spending hundreds of pounds of her own money to pay vet bills.

She said: “It was an elderly lady looking after the cats in Dovercourt and she originally only had two, but within two years that increased to 40.

“What is really worrying is that they will have to euthanised, if a home cannot be found.

“It’s really sad and horrific when we have healthy cats that just need a home.”

Miss Palfreman, of Holland-on-Sea, is spending three days a week trapping the cats before taking them to the vet for check-ups.

She added: “We just want to find them a nice place where they can live.

“All they need is to be fed and taken to the vet if needed.”

Unlike household pets, these feral cats should not live inside with a family.

Instead, Tendring Feral Rescue is advising anyone looking to rehome the cats that they can live outside with somewhere to shelter.

For more information, contact Miss Palfreman on 01255 814155.