HANDSOME Mattie the cat has fallen on hard times recently and is desperately seeking a new home.

The grey cat went into the care of St Albans Cats Protection when his owner died and was so depressed living in a pen that he went into foster care which cheered him up no end.

Things were finally looking up when he was found a new home with a lovely garden to explore but after three months the person who adopted him could no longer care for him.

But the Cats Protection branch is on Amber Alert and has no more available pens to take cats like Mattie which is why a new home is so urgently sought for him.

Jean Thompson, the St Albans branch co-ordinator, said: “This is a very unfortunate situation and we are very worried about Mattie as, even if we had space, it would be very unfair to put him back in an enclosed pen as he was quite depressed last time.”

“We feel that the best thing for Mattie would be a home-to-home adoption where he can go from his present home into a new permanent home with committed and caring adopters. Of course, he will need some time for making the adjustment but our homing officers work closely with adopters to achieve this.”

She said Mattie was a “mighty handsome”, very friendly and sociable cat in extremely good health.

Are you someone who could give a good home to Mattie? If so, contact the charity’s homing helpline on 0845 3712064.

Cats Protection works closely with adopters to make sure that they have all the information and help they need to give a cat a new home and second chance.