A COUNTY animal shelter has no more vacancies after a Spring kitten explosion.

Cats Protection League have been inundated with 17 litters of kittens doubling the amount of felines at the shelter from 50 to 100 who need homes.

Workers at the Allensmore shelter, which opened last September, knew the 'kitten season' would bring in more temporary residents but they had no idea how many cats would be passing through the doors.

Shelter manager Dee White said that, in one home, at bedtime a seven-year-old told his mum he could hear mewing.

"She investigated and found a tabby cat she had never seen before under the young lad's bed."

In another case, a terrified black and white cat gave birth under cardboard boxes in Ross-on-Wye.

"In the north of the county a heavily pregnant long-haired tortoiseshell appeared to be pushed out from an unusually parked car and gave birth that night in a greenhouse."

She said all the rescued cats were now happy and recovering from their experiences but others were not so lucky.

"Cats Protection offers financial help under our neutering scheme to prevent unwanted litters of kittens, but now they are here we need approved homes."

For further information call 01432 277543.