A cat which was rescued from the streets of Gravesend after being found with a gaping wound on his jaw - has been put to sleep.

Olly was a stray cat who was found with a badly injured jaw near the Clock Tower in Harmer Street.

Gravesend resident Ryan Hilbert came to his rescue and the 25-year-old, of York Road, was determined to find the him, no matter how long it took.

WARNING: Graphic images below

He spent eight days trying to locate Olly and eventually manage to catch him and then the injured feline was given shelter by Anim-Mates animal rescue charity which is based in Ash.

Olly underwent an operation to reconnect his tongue and chin, but during the procedure, a vet discovered an aggressive cancerous tumour in his mouth.

The vet told Anim-Mates he thought Olly would possibly live for another two months.

However, is health deteriorated within just five weeks, so Olly had to be put to sleep.

The news of his demise was announced of the charity’s Facebook page which prompted an outpouring of sympathy online with more than 100 people commenting on his untimely death.

Bobbie Bajwa, an Anim-Mates volunteer who cared for Olly, said: “It is with deep sadness that we had to say goodbye to sweet Olly on Friday, December 7.

“He was starting to become uncomfortable and losing his dignity.

“Olly’s cancer had been growing rapidly, stretching his lip sideways and downwards.

“It had already reached both lymph nodes and there was a visible difference every single day.

“The tissue had also started to bleed for the third day in a row and we think he was scratching it and are now convinced his initial wound was self-inflicted as a direct result from cancer.

“Although Olly was still eating, he was drooling a lot and as a result, his paws became caked with gunk.

“He struggled to clean his paws and his bottom but would not allow them to be cleaned either.

“Cats are very clean animals so Olly must have felt very uncomfortable being so smelly and sticky and constantly tasting blood.”

To find out more about Anim-Mates click here.