A rescue cat has been bringing joy to lonely residents at a care home.

Libby, a cat handed over to Blue Cross rehoming centre in Hertfordshire, has found a new life bringing joy to her new housemates at Fosse House, in Ermine Close, St Albans, after turning up at the centre in the back of a taxi months before.

The care home had applied to adopt a cat to help with the socialisation of its elderly residents – particularly as some have dementia - and provide some “much needed” affection.

After a few days of settling in at the centre Libby had a vet check and they found that she was also pregnant.

Once Libby gave birth to five kittens, they all went to a loving foster home until they were old enough to go off to their own new families.

Libby ended up remaining in the centre while all of her kittens found homes, as many new mother cats in rehoming centres do.

Kirsten Findlay, Rehoming Supervisor, Blue Cross Hertfordshire said: “Libby was instantly a hit with the team, she was a very social and affectionate cat so we knew it wouldn’t be long before she found a new home.”