AN ANIMAL sanctuary is appealing to people to adopt a kitten after taking in more than 50 from just one house.

Happy Endings Animal Rescue, who run a 60 acre animal sanctuary in Sevenoaks, was called to a semi-detached house in Dartford following complaints from neighbours that dozens of cats were running loose in the area.

Founder Chris Johns, who started the animal centre three years ago, said: "There were cats everywhere. It was quite a shock.

“They were in the outbuildings, hiding in the undergrowth and bushes.

"They hadn’t been neutered and kept breeding so the situation had got out of control."

Mr Johns and co-founder veterinary nurse Terry Kemp set automatic traps in the garden of the home and baited them with pungent smelling sardines to attract the cats.

Mr Kemp said: "We had to keep going back to check the traps at regular intervals all hours of the day and night, and rescue the cats inside them.

“It took a lot of time to catch them.”

Each cat has since been given a health check, vaccinated and microchipped.

Mr Johns said: "It is a perfect illustration of why cat owners should get their pets neutered.

“A female cat and it's offspring can produce a staggering 1,554 offspring within two years if left un-neutered."

The sanctuary has 21 kittens from seven weeks to 12-weeks-old up for adoption and are urging people to get in touch.

Anyone wishing to rehome an animal must undergo a home background check.

For more information, call Happy Endings Animal Rescue on 07809 721309.