CLAYTON - King Kong Bundy once defeated Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.

But when the pro wrestler — known outside of the ring as Chris Pallies — came home to South Jersey from WrestleMania, he would hang up his trademark black singlet and cuddled up to his cats.

More:King Kong Bundy, pro wrestler and Atlantic City native, dies at 61

Since his sudden death on March 4, Gloucester County animal welfare groups have taken in four of the wrestler's fur babies — Stewie, Paige, Gio and a senior cat named Pat.

Pallies owned about 10 cats, according to Purrfect Angels Cat Rescue founder Suzanne Pomeroy whose agency is helping to find new homes for the animals.

Pallies, an Atlantic City native who made Gloucester County his home, was a "fantastic kitty lover," Pomeroy recalled.

"This was really a big part of his life," she said.

Stewie, 8, Paige, 10, and Pat, 15 were bought to the Gloucester County Animal Shelter when their "human daddy passed away," the shelter wrote about the animals on its Facebook page.

"Stewie misses his daddy a lot, but he's doing the best to keep his spirits up until he finds a new human to love," the post continued.

Paige is "sad and lonely" at the county's Clayton facility, the shelter indicated in another post.

The shelter is offering discounts on adoption fees if the cats are adopted together.

Gio, a black and white young cat, and Pat are in the care of Purrfect Angels Cat Rescue based in Gloucester County. The organization maintains the adoption center at PetSmart in Washington Township. Pat, the "gentle and sweet" toothless senior, is housed at the Route 42 store, Pomeroy said.

Gio's adoption will be final on Friday, she said.

Pallies adopted Gio from Purrfect Angels four years ago, Pomeroy recalled.

"I think King Kong Bundy loved him very much," she said.

"We knew from processing his application he was a very serious cat lover. We knew (Gio) was going to be well-loved and well-cared for with King Kong Bundy."

To apply to adopt animals from Purrfect Angels Cat Rescue, visit the nonprofit's website www.purrfectangels.org. The rescue agency requires three references, a vet reference for applicants who already own pets, and an OK from a landlord for those who rent.

To apply for animals at the Gloucester County Animal Shelter visit the shelter's website.

Carly Q. Romalino; @carlyqromalino; 856-486-2476; cromalino@gannettnj.com