A cattery run by an elderly widower is facing closure as donations dwindle and vet bills pile up.

Ron Ayres, of Valley Road, Portslade, has been running the cat rescue centre from his home for more than ten years.

But after the 71-year-old spent nearly £4,000 on vet bills in the past eight weeks on two sick moggies, Mr Ayres said: “The vet bills are killing us.

“Recently we had one cat who had been kicked in the face by hooligans and needed vital dental surgery which cost us £700.”

As the recession leads to people tightening their belts, Mr Ayres, who survives solely on his disability pension, is struggling to keep his charity afloat.

The cat lover says he has been overrun with lost and stray cats recently and has even had to turn some away as he does not have the space.

Mr Ayres said the cattery could only last for another month.

He added: “I would have to close the doors to my charity and re-home the cats I have at the moment.

“I'm a big softy and I could never have a healthy cat put to sleep. A life is a life.”

Pauline Tebbs, 63, from Shoreham, has been volunteering at the cattery since she went to adopt a cat in 2007.

She said: “It would be unbearable if we were to close. Ron never turns anybody away, he would move heaven and earth to let them in.”

Pauline said their charity has been able to help where others have not.

She said: “We may be a small charity, but we are helpful and kind. The cats are part of a family here and we are nearly in tears when some of them leave.”

Lost Cats Brighton became a registered charity two years ago and is currently housing about 25 lost cats. Ron and his volunteer workers managed to help more than 350 cats last year.

To find out how to help Ron and his cats go to www.lostcatsbrighton.org.uk, call 01273 422721 or visit the cattery at 182 Valley Road, Portslade.