A YOUNG cat was nursed back to health after a suspected road accident by dedicated cat charity staff and volunteers who put in hours of physio to get him back on his paws.

Inky - a poorly six-month-old who was believed to be a stray – was taken to a vets displaying symptoms of lameness. He was not chipped, and despite an extensive search, an owner could not be traced.

Cats Protection’s Tyneside Adoption Centre brought Inky in to care, and he began his long - and at times painful - journey to recovery.

Inky was diagnosed with a severe injury to his hip that required orthopaedic surgery to correct, a costly procedure with a six-week recovery period.

“With pain relief, lots of care and patience from the staff, he started a structured physiotherapy programme to help him get back to full strength and able to walk on all four legs again,” said Tyneside Adoption Centre manager, Emzi Frazer.

“Inky was an absolute star throughout it all despite his cheeky attempts to get as near to his carers as possible rather than staying firmly on the ground on all four paws.

A family visiting the centre adopted him and are now his proud owners.

Inky is just one of the cats that the Tyneside Adoption Centre cares for until they are ready to be rehomed.

Last year, it rehomed 430 unwanted and abandoned cats who ended up at the centre for a variety of reasons.

Before any cats leave the centre staff ensure they neutered and microchipped, as well as up-to-date with vaccinations.

To see the cats available check out the website at https://www.cats.org.uk/tyneside