A college and pet charity opened a rehoming centre for abandoned cats on Monday.
North East Surrey College Of Technology (Nescot) and Blue Cross opened four new cat chalets at the college in Reigate Road, Ewell.
Students studying for an extended diploma in animal management will help care for the cats and kittens as part of their course and help to rehome them.
Adam Beral, head of animal studies, said: "The students are going to get some great practical experience, as well as being able to do something that benefits the cats and the Blue Cross charity.
"For example, they’ll be caring for cats with all kinds of temperaments and backgrounds, and they’ll also be working a lot in a customer care setting.
"It gives them the chance to put what they learn in the classroom to use in a real-life setting, so that prepares them very well for where they go on to work or study after Nescot."
Each chalet will usually home one cat unless the cats have a litter of kittens or the cats are used to living together.
The college’s animal studies unit is already home to pigs, sheep, ducks, goats, tortoises, fish and chickens.
Rob Skinner, senior fostering manager at the charity, said their rehoming centres across the country are often full to capacity.
Mr Skinner said: "We’re really happy to have set up this new partnership with Nescot, which will give homeless cats in the area the best chance of finding a new home, while enabling students to gain useful first-hand experience of looking after animals.
"So it really is a win-win partnership for all of us, including the cats."
Cats rehomed through the Blue Cross scheme are vaccinated, wormed, microchipped and neutered, checked over by a vet, and given a behavioural assessment.
Prospective cat owners can make an appointment to meet a cat and will be interviewed by staff and students to make sure they would be an appropriate match.
For more information on rehoming a cat click here or call the college on 0300 777 1930.
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