AN ANIMAL lover who desperately needed to rehome her seven cats before she downsized is delighted to have found forever homes for all of them.

Last week, Fiona McCormick, 61, made a plea for local people to adopt her seven feline friends before she moves into a one-bedroom bungalow near to a main road.

She had fears that she would be unable to find them new homes in the four week window she has before she moves, however, within six hours of the Dorset Echo publishing an article about her plight, all seven of her cats have been adopted.

They have all now been collected and are settling into their new homes.

Fiona said: "I have been overwhelmed at the speed at which the cats have all been rehomed - it is phenomenal.

"I was so worried that they wouldn't find homes before I move house but people are so kind and have taken them in."

Five of Fiona's cats have been rehomed individually but two of them, Sherlock and Moriarty, who are brothers from the same litter, have been rehomed as a pair.

Fiona said: "I am so pleased that the brothers have been adopted as a pair as they are very attached to each other and I really didn't want them to be split up.

"All the other cats have such individual personalities I think they are going to really enjoy being the only cat in their new homes so they can get more attention."

Fiona, who has seven children aged between 17 and 41, gave each cat some toys to take with them, along with a warm blanket, a tin of tuna and some of their favourite food to help them settle in easily.

She had hoped she would have a bit more time with her furry friends before they would be adopted, but, although she is sad to say goodbye to them all, she has been overwhelmed with gratitude that they will all be safe.

She said: "The relief I have knowing that they are all going to be looked after far outweighs any sadness I have that I have to say goodbye to them all."