Ian Somerhalder plays the tough character of Damon on CW’shit series The Vampire Diaries, but did you know he has a serious soft spot forhis furry friends? That’s right, we’re talking about kitty cats!

He told E! Online, "I've got a number of them andsometimes that number fluctuates because there will be a rescue that's fostereda little bit. There's a lot of fur."

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Somerhalder is sopassionate about the four-legged animals and trying to help out anyway way thathe can that The Humane Society of the United States is actually planning tohonor his work. On March 24^th, he’ll join the likes of EllenDeGeneres and Paul McCartney by receiving the Wyler Award the organization’supcoming Genesis Award gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel!

When it comes to actually taking ina new friend to join his pack, Ian is extremely smart about it by making suretheir good and healthy. “Ideally, I need to get them to a clinic first,” hesaid. “There’s an amazing clinic here in Atlanta, Pets Are People Too. Theseguys take care of all my animals. We get [strays] there and get them healthybecause I don’t want to take them back to my pride and get my kids sick.”Everybody together now – awe! Don’t you just love him??

What do you think about Ian’s lovefor his furry friends? 

Photos Courtesy of Fame Pictures