THE festive season has seen a happy ending for one lucky cat Homer, who has found a new home following an appearance in the Times.

Homer was one of the many cats taken in this year by Okehampton and District Cats Protection after he was found living under a car.

During his time in the charity's care, Homer appeared on the front page of the Times as part of an appeal to highlight increasing pressure on animal charities, as many pet owners have been hit by the economic downturn.

Since then, Homer has been re-homed in Bovey Tracey.

Pat Sawyer, branch co-ordinator for Okehampton and District Cats Protection, said: 'Homer is doing really well in his new home.

'I spoke to the lady who homed Homer, and within three days he was sat on her lap, and was right at home. He has settled in wonderfully, and that is great to hear.'

The charity has launched its Christmas appeal following its exceptionally busy year. The Okehampton branch is seeing at least one incidence a month of cats being abandoned in the area, and the demand for places in the branch's cat sanctuary has also increased dramatically.

This is in parallel with the charity's national figures, which has seen reports of stray cats or calls from people wanting to give up their cats increase by a third since 2009.

The charity is appealing for donations of cat food this Christmas from pet owners, including pouches that pets at home turn their noses up at. There are drop-off bins at Okeford Vets in both Okehampton and Chagford, the Big Pet Superstore on School Way, Mole Avon, and North Park Vets both in Okehampton and North Tawton.

Pat said: 'People have been kindly donating a lot just before Christmas, but we want to keep it going, so the more people that support us, the better. Even one or two pouches or tins of cat food make a big difference.'