Australian retirement village is exclusively for cats

Homeleigh retirement village is a perfect place to spend the twilight years, with staff to clean and cook, a garden and immaculate quarters. But forget about signing up - unless you are a cat.

Inside a fully functional house next to Keysborough Animal Shelter in outer Melbourne, the only residents are twelve aged felines.

A shelter staff member visits every morning and night to feed the moggies and human visitors pop in to spend a few hours.



Elizabeth Johns, one of the directors of the village, said the cats never fought and would roam the house and garden at will.

Ms Johns, who visits twice a week, said owners can rest easy knowing their pets will be cared for. That's the case even if an owner dies or is incapacitated. "You can't often rehome a cat, especially an older cat, and people want peace of mind," she said.

To become a resident, cats must be at least eight years old and owners must donate $6000 to cover expenses for the cat's life.