A woman dedicated to saving abandoned cats has sacrificed holidays, haircuts and even sold her car to continue caring for her prized pets.

Caroline Norton has 14 rescues at her home in Sheerness – all of which she has helped save voluntarily from a life on the streets.

She insists “nothing is more important” to her but keeping all of them has been no easy feat financially amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

It’s meant Ms Norton has given up going on holiday for more than a decade, and also called it a day to life on the road after waving goodbye to her vehicle during lockdown.

The 58-year-old even delayed having a tooth operation due to a lack of funds and a need to care for her feline companions.

But the animal lover has not allowed such setbacks to control her.

Instead she ensures her spare time is now occupied by her biggest passion of all – saving stray cats and rehoming them to loving families.

She told KentOnline: “My whole life revolves around helping animals and rehoming cats when I can, and the fact that I can’t afford or even get insurance for many of my cats makes it harder.

“Animals don’t have a voice and they don’t ask to be starving in the streets, so when you have a love for cats like I do, nothing is more important to me than giving them a safe and warm place to live and sleep.

“That's why I sacrifice things like having a car and paying for my TV subscription, because having a loving home and making a difference to these animals makes me happier.

“I also didn’t get a tooth operation prior to the pandemic, as I couldn't afford it due to money I instead used to look after my animals – that lost me some confidence too.

"So I've continued to help as many cats as I can, and all 14 of my cats have been rescued either from the streets or just from being unwanted.”

Ms Norton, who was forced to retire from her job as a postwoman after being attacked while working, has also suffered from a kidney disease diagnosis, a curved spine caused by fibromyalgia, and endured a period of septicemia.

She is not yet eligible for her state pension either and her reliance on universal credit and a small private pension means any income she does receive goes towards surviving.

This is because she has to visit the supermarket at least twice a week – spending more than £20 each shop on cat food and litter.

Such sums mean she has also waved away the use of alcohol, smoking, as well as going periods of nearly two years without a haircut to ensure she can maintain caring for her cats.

Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed, however, as she became the first recipient of donations from the newly-formed Sheppey Pet Angels – a pet food bank set up to help those on the Island who are struggling financially to care for their animals.

When asked how she felt about receiving some support, Ms Norton replied: “Although I was nominated for Sheppey Pet Angels, I have never used a pet food bank before despite my oldest cat being 15 and my youngest just two-years-old.

“But that’s because they are a very rare thing and something people don’t pay enough attention to.

“I have used, and do use food banks for me, and that’s not something I am ashamed of because I know the importance of voluntary help when you rarely ever have spare money.”

Ms Norton, who also suffered a devastating miscarriage more than 20 years ago and was told she would be unable to have children afterwards, admits her family and friends also play an important role by providing her with foods such as chicken and sardine when they can.

However, she acknowledges that not everyone is as sympathetic – with some landlords forbidding her from taking her cats with her to potential new homes.

She added: “Whereas I moved into a caravan so my cats would be accepted, some landlords can be really strict with animals living with you.

“People also move house without taking their cats with them which is just so cruel, especially when they are just dumped.

“So I think people need to be more educated on animals living in the street because some of the ones which do suffer a huge amount.

“That’s why I need to make sure they are going to people who can be trusted and not just anyone because having any animal is a commitment.

“So I do this because it’s my passion and because I have no choice, and what people don’t realise is that there’s others like me but just don’t get any recognition.”