One of the front bedrooms of Ken and Valerie Andrews' home in Henleaze has become home to some furry guests.

When the couple open the door, a dainty black and white cat gets up to greet them. Nearby, four kittens are contentedly snuggled together in a basket.

The spare bedroom is now being used as a maternity foster home for stray cats and their kittens.

Ken and Valerie became foster carers for cats for The Moggery in Bishopston about a year and a half ago, and have now looked after about 30 cats and kittens.

The little black and white cat is the fifth mother they have cared for, and came to live with them three and a half weeks ago, and had her kittens two weeks ago.

"We call her Bella," says Valerie. "She looks less than two years old, but she's already had one litter of kittens before this one."

She says they had never heard of cat fostering until she visited The Moggery with daughter Claire to get her a pet, following the death of her cat.

While there, she met Christine Bayka, who runs The Moggery, and mentioned that she and Ken would love to have cats but lived near a busy road.

"Christine suggested that we become involved in fostering cats and their kittens, as all they needed was a spare room," says Valerie, who was an administrator at the University of Bristol before she retired.

"When a cat has got kittens, it's a 24-hours-a-day duty, and it's easier for them to stay inside," she adds. "After six weeks we let them have the run of the house, before they go to new homes when the kittens are about eight or nine weeks old."

Ken, a retired works manager for BT, adds: "We didn't know what to expect really. I supposed we envisaged having just a couple of cats a year.

"But it's very rewarding, and when the kittens get older they go exploring around the house and are very funny."

Is it hard work looking after a cat and kittens?

"Basically it's about keeping them clean and tidy," says Ken. "The hardest bit is probably cleaning the litter trays and feeding bowls, but if you love cats it's no problem."

The Moggery provides food and cat litter for cats and kittens that are being fostered, as well as advice and support.

"It can be hard letting them go, but at least we know we're giving them to people who want to give them a home," adds Ken.

"We always do a follow-up visit after the cat or kittens have been in their new home for three months. It's good because we can see that they've settled with their new owners and are happy.

"We often go in and the new owners will say the cats disappear when they see strangers, but they don't when they see us – they must recognise us.

"Even the kittens seem to remember us. We paid a follow-up visit the other day, and a kitten jumped into my lap. That's happened before – I think they recognise our voices."