Senior cat Aster has been in RSPCA care for 437 days after being rescued as a stray.

The 13-year-old cat is looking for a retirement home after being cared for at the RSPCA Bath Cats and Dogs Home for over a year.

He came into the charity’s care as a stray and since his time with the RSPCA he has proven to be quite an independent cat. As he has had to look after himself in the past, this means he can be a little wary of people now.

Vanessa Langford, at RSPCA Bath, North East Somerset and Wiltshire branch, said: “Poor Aster has been with us for over a year now and we really want to find him a lovely home. We found that he doesn’t mind humans being near him but he likes company on his own terms so he will need owners who understand that he is never going to be a lap cat but he will make a lovely companion.

“He has become a firm favourite at the branch. We are all so fond of him and want him to find a nice retirement home.

“He’d like a quiet, adult-only home where he’ll be the only pet and have plenty of outdoor space to explore. He takes daily medication in his food so this will need to continue in his new home too.”

Aster is what could be described as an ‘inbetweener cat’. He is unlikely to be a friendly lap cat but he doesn’t mind human company as long as it’s on his own terms. He likes to explore the great outdoors but couldn’t survive on his own on the streets so needs someone to feed and take care of him.

Every cat is an individual and some cats like more attention from people than others. As Aster spent so much time living as a stray cat he has developed quite an independent personality so would suit a home where someone understands he will need to come and go as he pleases.

Sadly, it can take four times longer to rehome older cats* but the charity is hoping someone sees past Aster’s senior years and gives him a second chance at happiness.