A cat rescue charity has taken in 12 animals whose owner became seriously ill.

Haworth Cat Rescue took in the pets, which had come from a house where seven other cats also lived.

Their owner had found new owners for the other seven while he was in hospital.

A spokesman for Haworth Cat Rescue said: “In normal circumstances their owner would have expected to keep them for the rest of their lives.”

She urged people to make arrangements for their cats to be cared for should anything happen. “Rescue centres are there to help, but in these hard-pressed times they are struggling to keep afloat,” she said.

“Too many people think they will be all right and will be able to keep their cats forever, or assume a relative or a friend will take responsibility.”

Haworth Cat Rescue holds a table-top sale at West Lane Methodist Church, Haw-orth, on the first Saturday of each month, from 9.30am to 11.30am. The charity can be contacted on (01535) 647184.