At least 15 abandoned cats and kittens will be starting 2013 in a new home following an RSPCA appeal in the Lowestoft Journal.

The Lowestoft-branch of the animal rescue charity revealed it was caring for more unwanted cats than ever and made an appeal for potential owners to come forward in December.

Elderly female cat Bubbles was among the fortunate felines to find a new home before Christmas. Bubbles was found by an RSPCA officer starving and trapped in a cellar. After several months living in one of the RSPCA's pens, Bubble was lucky enough to find a home with a woman and her adult daughter.

Delphine Wood, of the RSPCA's re-homing department in Lowestoft, said: 'I am very grateful for the Lowestoft Journal's help. It really has made a difference and it has enabled us to take in more needy cats that need looking after.'

The RSPCA still has lots of cats looking for new homes and has made a special appeal for help in re-homing a four-year-old female tortoiseshell called Phillipa.

Ms Wood said: 'We need a special kind of home for Phillipa as she doesn't like to be picked up much. We think she would be happier on a farm or stables. She has been with us for a year and we would be so happy to see her set up as a farm cat.'

The charity is also asking for help to trace the owner of a long haired tabby cat found in the Oulton Road area of Lowestoft. The animal's microchip says he is 14-years-old and called Smudge. His registered owner is no longer at the address given on the microchip and may have moved to the Beccles area.

Ms Wood said: 'Smudge is a beautiful long haired tabby but had been clearly living rough for a while. He was obviously well cared for at some point because he is micro-chipped, which is how we found out his name and his age. Unfortunately we cannot trace his owner.

'He was found not far from his registered address and we wondered whether he had made his way back to the area and is just lost. We have to also consider that his name may have been changed and we do know he originally came from London.

'We would very much like the opportunity to find his owner before he is offered up for adoption.'

She said Smudge was of a quiet temperament but potential new owners should be aware he would need regular grooming.

To inquire about re homing a cat, call 01502 566623 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between noon and 4pm.