A self-funded cat rescuer has issued a plea for more foster homes for cats in the city.

Jules Hales, 54, has been taking care of animals since the mid 1990s. Known as Cat Man Jules online, he is asking his community for help as the amount of stray cats has risen.

Mr Hales blames rising vet costs for the influx.

He said: “If a person goes to their vet and says I have a kitten and I want to get it chipped and I want to get it neutered, or vaccinated, they go that will be 500 pounds please, and they don’t bother getting it done.

“Which then means if it gets out it will get pregnant or if its a male is will go out and fighting and get run over. The bigger chain vets are all greed”

Mr Hales is asking for more people to help foster or donations to vet bills.

He said: “In the past when I ask for help and explain what I do instead of it being a positive thing, I just get more cats dumped on me. I feel like giving up everyday but I keep doing it because the animals, the cats and kittens, need help at the moment.”

“I should be back in Ukraine now helping animals, as I’ve been before, I wanted to get all my cats and kittens down to a bare minimum like I did last time before I went. And its just shot up again”

Mr Hales started his rescuing trying to focus on tomcats – a group he felt was normally ignored by the larger cat rescue community.

He said: “It was only by accident that I started doing it, All the rescues and charities want the pregnant cats and the kittens, the cute ones, but no one was bothered by the big tomcats, rough looking ones. But If I’m asked to help ill try. Instead of doing more tomcats on the street I do more pregnant cats and kittens. Its like banging your head against the wall, it just gets worse and worse.

“I argue all the time with the RSPCA, because unless there is a camera and its good publicity they’re not interested.”

A spokesperson for the RSPCA refuted this. He said: “Claims that the RSPCA is only interested in cases involving publicity are completely untrue. Our inspectors and animal rescue officers respond to thousands of reports every year, prioritising animals that are sick, injured or suffering.”

If you can help contact @Juleshales on facebook