It is an extraordinary catfight which has been drawn out for a decade at a remote rural hamlet.
On the one side is retired builder John Scott, who has spent 10 years battling to live at his cattery at Hockwold, near Thetford to care for its guests.
And on the other are planning officials from West Norfolk Council, who until now have maintained there is no need for a rural worker's home at the business, because there are other houses nearby Mr Scott could live in and his business may not be viable.
Now Mr Scott, 63, has finally been given the all-clear to move into the luxury feline retreat he built at White Dyke Farm, to replace a smaller unit a decade ago.
Mr Scott, who has previously been sleeping in a motorhome on the site, said: "We had a small cattery, with 10 cats and now we have 50 which is why we needed the residential element here, so we could live with the cats for security.
"We put an application in and they say they don't like it because of this, they then say they don't like it because of that."
Mr Scott, who has had two previous applications rejected, lost an appeal against the council's first refusal in 2017 after a planning officer said he did not believe the business was sustainable, because it was operating at "a marginal profit level".
"The cattery's been running for 20 years," he said. "If it wasn't financially viable, it would have gone bust by now."
Mr Scott's agent said other nearby farms had been given the go-ahead for rural workers' homes, with one being agreed without any financial details being supplied.
A planning officer's report prior to the council's change of mind said: "Further information has been submitted to that previously considered.
"The passage of time has also provided additional financial records for the business and enabled the applicant the ability to further invest in the business.
"As such it is appropriate that the position is reconsidered."
Figures for 2023 and 2024 show profits of around £13,000, while the addition of extra outside pens are likely to bring more revenue into the business, which charges from £12.50 a day for one cat to £23 for four.
"A lot of people do it because they think there's a lot of money in it, but it's a 24/7 job, so you've got to live here," he said.
"You can't just come and throw a bit of food in for them and then come back later to check they're OK."
Mr Scott, who estimates he has spent £50,000 trying to get permission to live above his business, has now made a formal complaint to the council.
"The long and the short of it is they've just tried their best to make it really difficult," he said.
"A different planning officer looked and it and they just decided it could go through."
Cattery manager Debs Blomfield said: "I've been here four years and I know everything John's gone through with the planning.
"I think it's all been a bit unnecessary, he's just been trying to do the right thing.
"They've just been blocking him all the way, it's not fair really."
Villagers have supported Mr Scott throughout his lengthy battle. One wrote on the council's planning portal they were "baffled" when his appeal failed.
"The reason cited was that the cattery was not 'economically viable' despite it running successfully for over 10 years at the same location," they added.
"Recognising the number of other planning applications that have succeeded in the local vicinity, it is difficult to understand why this application has not been approved previously as it has brought to life a disused building, offers employment to local people, including neighbours and work experience for local children."
