Comments can get very catty on Parliament Hill, but that's purr-fectly fine with Rene Chartrand.

The Ottawa man has become something of an institution in a city famous for them.

He's the cat-man of the country's capital.

The 83-year-old has been taking care of business - and at least 28 homeless felines - for the past 16 years.

Every day, he emerges with a bag of goodies, while doing his stray cat strut.

"I love it," he explains. "It's a good pastime for me. Every day I come here. I got nobody to please at home. I'm alone."

But it's not just the cats that this cat-man cares for. Visitors are astounded to see his gentle touch attract a menagerie of critters. It's not unusual for them to watch a raccoon sharing a lunch with one of his precious kittens.

He also doesn't forget about the birds, arriving with bread crumbs to satisfy even the most peckish fowl.

Legend has it the cats are descendants of the felines that were originally set loose on Parliament Hill to get rid of all the mice. Some wags suggest much larger rats have since taken over inside, but Chartrand doesn't get into the politics of his mission.

He just wants his furry friends to get a meal and is always there to take care of them.

And his charity isn't cheap. Keeping the cats fed and healthy costs about $6,000 a year, some of which Chartrand collects in donations.

For now, he has no plans to retire. "I'm good for maybe ten more years," he laughs. 

Hopefully, he still has at least eight more lives to go.