A lucky litter of kittens are now safely in foster care after they were discovered hiding inside the rafters of a semi-derelict house by the new homeowner.
The man was working on the renovation of his bungalow in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, when he heard what he thought were rats in the loft.
But a tiny 'meow' convinced him otherwise and he called in the experts from animal charity Cats Protection to help rescue the adorable moggies.
Volunteer and fosterer Jonathan Hawkins arrived to investigate and set about installing a humane trap in the attic to bring the furry family down to the ground.
Jonathan said: "The mother came out of her hiding place shortly after I arrived with the trap, but once I got her home, I noticed she had visible teats and realised there must be kittens nearby."
Jonathan returned to the loft, and spotted the glint of a kitten's eye in his torch beam.
He added: "The kittens were almost fully hidden in a nest in the insulation.
"Despite her young age, the mother cat had excellent maternal instincts to have found such a warm space for her young, even if fibreglass isn't ideal nest material!"
The mum, named Ann, and her kittens, Paige, Jack, Pye, Coco and Frank, are now in foster care and will be ready for adoption from the charity's Wellingborough & Rushden Branch this summer.
Story of the week
In a world where connections can be hard to build, what better way to come together than through our furry friends?
Julie Harris has been volunteering with The Cinnamon Trust, a charity for older people, the terminally ill and their pets, since her beloved cat Puss died aged 20.
The grandmother-of-one is now on her third foster cat and, through her work as a volunteer dog walker, has built a strong friendship with 12-year-old schnauzer George.
She has also formed a bond with his owner, former model Kitty Illingworth, who at 94 is no longer able to take him for walks.
Julie, from Worthing, West Sussex, said: "On my first visit to meet George, I was invited in by Kitty who wanted to know all about me.
"Thankfully, I passed 'the test' and my offer to take George out twice a week was agreed.
"Over the last three and a half months, Kitty and I have become friends, and my dog walking has evolved to long chats and a coffee with Kitty after walking George, taking George to the vets, and helping out where I can.
"An overly excited and vocal George always greets me each time I arrive at the house.
"Walking George not only gives me pleasure and George exercise, but has enabled me to get to know Kitty and hear her stories about her childhood as the eldest of seven children during the Second World War."
Having had dogs all her life, George remains a constant companion to Kitty, whose husband of 55 years, Roy, passed away in 2017.
Julie added: "At the age of 94, Kitty is living independently in her own home and keeps herself busy knitting amazing baby clothes for friends and family, including my granddaughter, reading, doing daily word puzzles, and keeping up with current affairs and the world of celebrities.
"Kitty is an elegant lady, who always looks immaculate with lovely painted nails and is proof that age is but a number."
Story of the week
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed a major new signing for the club. No, it's not a new striker - it's a mood-boosting Lab called Win.
The positivity pooch was brought on board after Gunners boss Arteta read how petting a dog can reduce stress levels.
She regularly visits the club's London Colney training ground and has taken meeting the team's resident cat Bob in her stride.
Arteta told Arsenal.com: "We always talk about family, and being connected. A big family like we are at the club, and I feel like we are a family, we need a dog to represent that family.
"I carefully chose the dog and, in my opinion, it's the perfect representative of who we are right now. Her name is Win, we all love winning and Win needs a lot of love.
"The reaction from the players and the staff has been incredible, she is one of us. She is going to be on this journey with us together."
Rescue of the week
Abandoned hamster Ivana was rescued after being left on a London bus inside her cage, along with clean bedding, food and water.
The Russian dwarf was picked up by RSPCA staff who took her to Southridge Animal Centre in Hertfordshire for rehoming.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Philip Heyes, who collected Ivana, said: "Abandoning a pet in a public space like this is very undignified, presumably she used to be someone's pet and a member of their family.
"Sadly there is an increase in small pet abandonment, as people are struggling to afford to meet their basic needs.
"Abandonment is never the answer, and we'd urge anyone who is struggling to reach out for help and support."
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