Stray cat Ronnie is looking for a home with the help of Gosport Cats Protection as they extend cheaper neutering and microchipping

Five-year-old Ronnie is being cared for by the Gosport branch of the rescue charity, which has just extended its ‘chip and snip’ campaign for an extra week to March 31 to help pet owners get their cats neutered and microchipped.

The World Spay Day campaign, which launched on February 25, is the first time the Gosport, Portsmouth and Southampton branches have joined forces for a common project, offering these services for £10 per cat to students or people receiving a means-tested benefit.

Gosport branch co-ordinator Kate Stapleford said: ‘Neutering and microchipping have remarkable benefits for cats and we still have vouchers available, especially from our allocation for Fareham cats.

‘Five-year-old tabby-and-white Ronnie is just one of the cats in our care at the moment whose life would have been very different if he had been microchipped and neutered.’

Ronnie was found as a stray in a greenhouse in Gosport where a kind lady was feeding him.

Kate added: ‘It is likely he was roaming as a result of the hormones coursing through his system, driving him to find a mate, and roamed too far from home to find his way back.

‘His time as a stray has left him a little anxious at first meetings but once he knows you he is a lovely, friendly cat with a big heart and a love of fishing-rod toys.

‘Of course he has now been neutered and microchipped, ready to update his chip with his new owner’s details.’

A family home with older children or adult household would suit Ronnie best, where he will need to be the only pet.

His fosterer has found that Ronnie really loves playtime and will chase toys, especially any with feathers. His absolute favourite is a fishing rod toy which he can pounce on and exhibit all his natural behaviours.

Those wishing to give Ronnie a home or to find out about the ‘chip and snip’ in the Gosport area should contact the branch’s welfare volunteer Chris on 023 9258 2601 or via cats.org.uk/gosport/contact-us.