Cat Rescue Dunedin (CRD) founder Ana Andrianova yesterday paid tribute to the generosity of the 90-year-old, who had become ill and recently died.
The organisation is seeking new homes for the cats, and, through its Facebook page has issued an "urgent plea on behalf of cats that lost their caretaker".
"This kind man generously provided food, water and shelter for these cats, being a real animal lover," Ms Andrianova said.
"I know it would've meant the world to this man to know that cats found new owners as kind as he was."
She said it was unclear exactly how many cats had been cared for by the man, but believed it was at least half a dozen.
"If the story of these cats touched you and you would like to help, CRD will desex, vaccinate, flea-worm, microchip them," she said
The group was also seeking homes for 70 other cats from elsewhere in the city.
