The story of a little cat who suffered a badly broken jaw touched hearts across the world.

Pet rescue group Anim-Mates came to Oliver’s rescue after he was found in Strood with a piece of his jaw bone sticking out and a deep-seated infection in the wound.

He’s been having veterinary treatment and a Facebook appeal for help with the bills led to £3,000 coming in, including donations from the UK, Sweden, USA and Australia.

Penny Lloyd had been regularly feeding a healthy young stray whom she named Oliver.

After disappearing for a couple of weeks Oliver reappeared but his lower lip had been ripped away from the jaw and he had lost both canine teeth on one side.

She rushed him to the vets and called animal sanctuary Anim-Mates.

Volunteer Bobbie Bajwa said: “The original diagnosis was extremely pessimistic. It was thought he may not make it through that night.

“The vet advised that it might be kinder to put Oliver to sleep, but we were determined to give him a chance."

The vet said Oliver’s injuries were most likely inflicted by a human being.

The two halves of his broken jaw were wired together, and he had a tube fitted sideways through his jaw to allow the pus of an infection to drain away.

It took four weeks to clear up the infection and during that time the vet still wasn’t sure if the jaw would bond well enough for Oliver to ever eat normally.

But the little cat proved to be remarkably resilient.

Soon Oliver will go back to the vets to have his wire removed and to be neutered. Then he will be found a new home.

Anim-Mates is a volunteer-run animal rescue group based in St Mary Hoo, where animals are cared for in the homes of fosterers until they are rehomed.

All new homes are subject to vetting, visit www.anim-mates.org.uk.