A YOUNG cat that shares many traits with his Wizard of Oz namesake has been repeatedly overlooked for adoption because of his independent nature.

Cats Protection’s Ferndown Adoption Centre took three-year-old Toto into care after he began to stray, seeking adventures on his own rather than remaining with other cats in the household.

He has been declared ‘fit to home’ by the centre for over a month but the average wait from this point for cats across the charity's network is usually just 12 days, meaning Toto has already spent three times longer than most, waiting to be chosen by a new owner.

Staff and volunteers at the centre in Cobham Road believe a rural or semi-rural location would be best for Toto, ideally a home with a large, interesting garden and few other local cats.

When Toto first arrived at the centre he had some redness to his gums which responded well to a short course of anti-inflammatories and was suspected to be a viral flare linked to stress.

The charity would therefore like to find him a low-stress environment where he can enjoy plenty of freedom and return for affection when he wishes.

To find out more about Toto, contact the centre on 03000 120 175 or visit www.cats.org.uk/ferndown