VOLUNTEERS showed off the quality of newly developed cat pens at a Cross Roads-based cat and kitten shelter by spending the night in them!

Thanks to grants from Support Adoption For Pets, The Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust and The Jeanne Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, Yorkshire Cat Rescue has replaced seven of its old wooden pens with ten warmer, brighter and more hygienic PVC pens.

The sleepover brought together 12 staff and volunteers who came in their pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers, bringing along hot water bottles and even teddy bears for a sound night's sleep.

Centre manager Sam Davies said: "The grants and donations which have paid for this re-build will dramatically improve the conditions for the cats here.

"The facilities are cleaner and warmer and offer a less intimidating space for the cats, which helps enormously in making sure they show their friendliest side to potential adopters.

"We've been able to make better use of the old space, and the three additional pens will allow us to rescue 150 more cats each year.

"These modern pens are so good that we thought we'd prove the point by camping out in them ourselves!"

The project is part of a larger refurbishment of the centre's facilities. The kitten house has also been revamped, with nine brand new units that are both warmer and easier to keep clean.