A badly limping stray cat has been saved from death by two animal lovers – but a charity still needs help to give him the treatment he needs.

For a month Patricia Richardson-Smith had tried to catch Reuben who had been seen in the Cleave Road area of Gillingham.

Eventually a neighbour, Barbara Danielewicz-Gardiner, managed to contain the weakened cat in her garden in nearby Seaton Road.

He had an open wound and was limping badly so they took him to an emergency vet.

Patricia said: “Much to our horror the vet advised it was best to have Reuben put down.

“We were determined that he should be saved and implored the vet not to put him down.

“We put Reuben’s plight on social media and got a response from Anim-Mates' cat manager Bobbie Bajwa, who also pleaded with the vet not to put Reuben to sleep.”

Anim-mates is a volunteer-run animal rescue group in Ash, near Meopham.

The charity has a 'no kill' policy and volunteers were desperate to save Reuben.

"We were determined that he should be saved and implored the vet not to put him down" - Patricia Richardson-Smith

Bobbie said: “Although I offered to rescue Reuben, the vet kept me at bay for four days."

During that time he contacted two national animal charities, but they declined to help Reuben.

“It was a very stressful four-day wait to get Reuben out of there alive," said Bobbie.

“At our own vet Reuben was diagnosed as having a very severe bone infection in his lame leg and dreadful anaemia.

"He was admitted for intravenous antibiotics and tests.

“A few days later Reuben’s white blood cells had returned to a normal level and his anaemia was much improved.

“Although this was encouraging, his very serious leg infection was still a major cause for concern.

“The vet cannot yet rule out cancer, nor do we know for sure if Reuben can keep his leg.”

Bobbie later took Reuben to her home in Cliffe where he will be on antibiotics for at least a month before returning to the vet for a further assessment.

Animals rescued by Anim-Mates are cared for in the homes of fosterers until they are rehomed.

Eventually when Reuben is returned to better health Bobbie will be seeking a new home for him.

• Donations to help with Reuben’s vet bills can be made visiting www.anim-mates.org.uk and clicking on donations.