The eight-year-old tom-cat, which staff at Cats Protection's Wrexham shelter have named Piers, was found outside an empty house in Wrexham on Sunday.

Shelter manager, Lynn Gay, said: "A neighbour found him and phoned us.

When we picked him up he was suffering from rope burns around the neck where he had been tugging to get free.

"He's a gorgeous cat and we'd like to find him a loving new home. We will probably contact the RSPCA to report the way in which he was found.

"We'd like to get across to the public they don't have to abandon animals in this way. We are always here to help and are never going to turn a needy cat away if they give us a call."

Lynn explained the shelter in Madeira Hill was currently full to the limit due to extra cats and kittens coming in over Christmas and the New Year, with all 24 of its pens occupied by animals in need of permanent homes.

All of the shelter's regular fosterers who take care of cats in their own homes, are also fully booked at the moment.

Lynn said apart from the usual seasonal influx, the affects of the credit crunch were also being felt at the shelter.

"If people are losing their jobs and homes and moving into rented property they often aren't allowed to take pets with them and that means more and more are ringing us up to take them in," she said.

"Of course, the credit crunch could also have a positive affect in that if people are losing their jobs they are going to be at home more during the day and cats can be good company and excellent stress busters. So if people want to give a home to one we would be delighted to hear from them."

To contact the shelter, phone 01978 313574 or visit the website www.wrexham.cats.org.uk.