A cat who arrived in care just half the size of her sibling is on the road to recovery after a local charity spent thousands getting her back on her paws. 

One-year-old Puddin' has been in the care of Cats Protection North Hertfordshire since last November after arriving with her sister and another cat. While Pumpkin and Peaches were in good health and were quickly adopted, things were not looking rosy for poor Puddin'. 

As well as being tiny for her age, she was suffering regular bouts of diarrhoea that needed further investigation. All serious diseases were eventually ruled out and she was given the medicine to correct her tummy issues.

 North Hertfordshire Team Leader Paula Wilson said:"During the investigations, Puddin' was found to have a middle ear infection which had damaged her ear drum. A course of antibiotics was not enough to clear the infection, and blood tests and a scan revealed a build-up of fluid. The vet advised Puddin' should undergo an operation called a myringotomy to drain the fluid and infection."

Puddin' has coped amazingly well with all the treatment, winning the affections of everyone she meets from vet staff to her dedicated fosterer, often climbing onto a shoulder to perch like a parrot.

Puddin's treatment and after-care cost the volunteer group just over £2,000 and they have created a JustGiving page for anyone who would like to help them cover this, with anything raised above the total going to help the other cats in their care: www.justgiving.com/page/north-herts-cats-protection-puddin

Paula added: "Puddin' has been incredibly brave throughout her trials, and it is wonderful to see what a happy little soul she is.

"While we have loved having Puddin' with us, her lengthy treatment plan has left a sizeable hole in Cats Protection North Hertfordshire's finances. We could not have given this cat a second chance without the continued generosity of our supporters and we thank everyone who donates money to us and our cats. Even a few pounds or pennies helps us fulfil our mission of giving every cat a fighting chance at a happy life."

For the time being Puddin' will remain with her fosterer until she is ready for adoption. To see the cats available for adoption and to find out more about the work of Cats Protection North Hertfordshire visit here.