Volunteers rally to rescue neglected cats from 'putrid' Homes NSW unit

A Newcastle animal rescue group is racing to save a colony of cats that has lived on a ledge outside a Homes NSW residence for about a year.

The effort comes after a passer-by took matters into her own hands and then persuaded the department to open the door.

The Stray Cats Project said the cats could move from the ledge across to neighbouring balconies, and back inside an empty unit above, which the group described as "putrid" and unoccupied.

The unit's outside door is gone and sheets of wood have been screwed and nailed over the opening to stop people getting in.

The rescue group said the cats had been seen on social media in the past but it had been unable to help until a new volunteer joined its team.

The volunteer came across the cats on her daily walk at Merewether beach, according to the group.

After multiple attempts to get the RSPCA to act, with no reply, she caught one of the cats herself and took her to a vet, paying $650 to have her desexed and vaccinated.

The Stray Cats Project said the cat was pregnant and would have given birth to another six kittens within weeks.

The group then drew up a plan for the remaining cats.

Two more were due to be desexed on a Monday and a kitten found on the day of the group's post was about to come into its care.

The group said the volunteer had also convinced Homes NSW to give volunteers access to the empty unit so the cats could be trapped, and to allow a small enclosure to be built on the ground floor.

The enclosure is intended to give the cats a safe place to recover from surgery and get used to living off the ledge.

The rescue said the volunteer paid for the materials and bought a large amount of food for the cats.

Construction began over the weekend and is continuing.

It is understood the unit is under vacant possession of Homes NSW, which is working with the rescue organisation to allow access to the unit and surrounding area after the cats were left by the previous resident.

It is understood there are about a dozen cats living at the site.

The rescue group said the project was also drawing residents closer.

People who had previously said they did not like the cats were now offering to help build the enclosure and look after the animals, it said.

The rescue is now appealing for foster carers so the cats can be brought down, desexed, vaccinated, flea- and worm-treated, microchipped and vet-checked.

Some cats would need only five days of post-surgery care, feeding and changing litter trays, before returning to the enclosure, while friendlier animals could stay in foster care for weeks until they are rehomed.

The group said it could not save more animals without more carers.

It said first-time fosterers would receive support, supplies and training, and it also asked for help with transport and donations to cover veterinary costs, noting gifts of more than $2 are tax deductible.

The Stray Cats Project is a Newcastle-based registered charity that desexes, microchips and rehomes stray cats, relying largely on donor generosity.

It has previously worked with colonies at the Stockton breakwall.

The same group of cats was the subject of earlier appeals for help.

One appeal posted online sought help for 15 kittens and four adult cats in Merewether, which she said were from the same breeder.

The post said the owner was no longer willing or able to properly care for the animals, and that many were severely underweight and struggling.

Between four and six cats and kittens had been rescued and rehomed, it said, but many more were still waiting.

The poster wrote that she had sought assistance but had been unable to secure support, and was trying to find homes and rescue options herself.

She asked for people to foster or adopt, share rescue contacts, or help with vet care, food, worming and desexing costs.

Her post linked to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up in June.

That page described many of the cats and kittens as underweight, flea-infested and without basic veterinary care, and said costs were "quickly becoming overwhelming".

It said attempts to find help through other avenues had been unsuccessful.