Cat Rescue Lake Macquarie

07/06/2026

This paper says what people working on the ground have known for a long time. Catching cats, putting them in pounds, and killing the ones who are frightened has not fixed cat overpopulation. It has filled shelters. It has put staff through awful decisions. It has hurt carers and communities.

We’re proud to share a new paper by APWF Policy Advisor Jenny Cotterell and Chief Scientist Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand. Community Cat Programs in Australia – A Humane, Evidence-Based Approach to Cat Management has been published in Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases.

This paper says what people working on the ground have known for a long time. Catching cats, putting them in pounds, and killing the ones who are frightened has not fixed cat overpopulation. It has filled shelters. It has put staff through awful decisions. It has hurt carers and communities. And it has left the real problem untouched — cats keep breeding because people still cannot access affordable desexing, microchipping and support.

Community Cat Programs deal with the source. They desex cats. They microchip them. They support owners and carers. They rehome kittens and social cats. They return healthy cats when that is the safest option. They create working cat pathways for healthy cats who are not suited to a normal home.

The results are already there.

In one Australian program, cat intake fell by 60%, euthanasia fell by 85%, and complaints fell by 39% in 3.5 years. In another, shelter intake fell by 66%, euthanasia by 82%, and cat-related calls by 51%. This is what happens when cat management is built around evidence, prevention and the people already caring for these cats. This is the future of urban cat management in Australia.

Read the paper here: https://petwelfare.org.au/publications/urban-cat-management

06/06/2026

This is Asha.

Most people stop scrolling for kittens.

Very few stop scrolling for cats like Asha.

Asha came into our care from a colony that had grown from just a handful of cats to more than 40 because the cats were being fed, but not desexed. By the time we became involved, the situation was completely out of control.

Today, Asha is scared but safe for now.

But rescue doesn’t end when a cat is rescued.

In many ways, that’s when the hard work begins.

What many people don’t realise is that Cat Rescue Lake Macquarie is not a large organisation with paid staff, government funding or millions of dollars in the bank.

Behind the scenes, the rescue is largely run by a VERY small group of people.

Every adoption enquiry.
Every home check.
Every vet appointment.
Every transport run.
Every social media post.
Every fundraising event.
Every late-night emergency message.

It all happens because ordinary people give up their time, energy and money to help cats who have nowhere else to go.

At the moment, rescue is harder than it has ever been.

Adoptions have slowed.

The cost of food, litter and veterinary care continues to rise.

The number of cats needing help keeps growing.

And while everyone falls in love with the kittens, it is often the adult cats, the shy cats and the mums like Asha who are left waiting.

Waiting for someone to see them.

Waiting for someone to give them a chance.

Waiting for a home.

This week has been a reminder of just how much pressure small rescues are under.

We are not the RSPCA.

We do not have paid staff.

We do not have unlimited resources.

What we do have is a small group of people trying their absolute best to make a difference for every cat that comes through our doors.

Some days that feels incredibly rewarding.

Some days it feels incredibly heavy.

Today is one of those days.

06/06/2026

ADOPTION PENDING

🖤 Clover 🖤

Clover was one of the most popular kittens from Willow’s litter, with a meet and greet arranged shortly after applications opened.

Unfortunately, that meet and greet was a no-show, which means this sweet little girl is still waiting for her forever family.

Clover is the kind of kitten who loves being close to her people. Whether she’s supervising dinner preparation, curling up beside a feline friend or following you from room to room, she simply enjoys being part of whatever is happening.

Gentle, affectionate and wonderfully easy-going, Clover has been raised alongside other cats, dogs and gentle children, helping her grow into a confident and well-rounded young kitten.

Because Clover thrives on companionship, she will not be rehomed as a single kitten. She must be adopted with another kitten or join a home with a young, friendly resident cat.

✔️ Microchipped
✔️ Vaccinated
✔️ Flea and worm treated
✔️ Desexing included through Cat Rescue Lake Macquarie when old enough

With her beautiful tuxedo markings, adorable white socks and loving nature, Clover is more than ready to find a family of her own

06/06/2026

APPLICATIONS ON HOLD. Due to the large volume of enquiries that we need to get through.

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Ivy still looking for parents…

When we first introduced Ivy, we received a huge amount of interest and even selected a family for a meet and greet.

Unfortunately, the meet and greet didn’t go ahead, which means this beautiful little girl is still looking for her forever home.

With her stunning eyes, luxurious fluff and easy-going personality, Ivy has all the ingredients of a wonderful family companion. She’s confident, playful and endlessly curious, approaching every leaf, toy and mysterious speck on the floor as though she’s been personally assigned quality control duties.

Raised alongside other cats, dogs and gentle children, Ivy has grown into a friendly, adaptable kitten who takes new experiences in her stride.

Because Ivy has always had feline companionship and genuinely thrives with it, she will only be rehomed with one of her siblings or to a home with another young, friendly cat.

✔️ Microchipped
✔️ Vaccinated
✔️ Flea & worm treated
✔️ Desexing included through Cat Rescue Lake Macquarie when old enough

If you’ve been thinking about adding a kitten to your family, Ivy is still waiting to meet you. 🐾

05/06/2026

🐄 Minx & Skittles are still waiting.

While the tiny kittens receive enquiry after enquiry, these two handsome boys have been quietly watching from the sidelines.

And honestly, we’re a little surprised.

At around 9 months old, Minx and Skittles are at that wonderful age where they’re still playful, curious and full of fun, but they’ve left the chaotic baby kitten stage behind.

Skittles has discovered that belly rubs are one of life’s greatest pleasures and would happily spend his days soaking up attention.

Minx is a little more independent, but don’t let that fool you. He’s curious, food-motivated and always interested in what you’re doing.

Born to a stray mum in Caves Beach, these boys didn’t have the safest start to life. A kind local resident began feeding the family, but neighbours became threatening and there were fears the cats would be harmed.

Thankfully, they made it into rescue before that happened.

Now they’re safe. And they’re ready for families of their own.

We wonder why they’ve been overlooked.

Because these boys really are lovely cats.

🐾 9 months old
🐾 Desexed, vaccinated and microchipped
🐾 Meet and greets available in Wangi Wangi

Sometimes the perfect additions to your family aren’t the tiny kittens everyone is chasing.

Sometimes they’re the two boys quietly waiting to be noticed. ❤️

04/06/2026

🐾 Meet Fifi 🐾

More than a year ago, Fifi arrived in rescue care as a tiny kitten in need of a second chance.

Since then, we’ve had the privilege of watching her grow into a beautiful young cat with a sweet, quirky personality that’s impossible not to love.

Somehow, while so many other cats have found their forever homes, Fifi has quietly grown up in rescue care while she waits for the family that’s meant for her.

Fifi can be a little shy when meeting new people, but with a little patience and kindness, she begins to feel safe, and that’s when her playful, charming nature starts to shine.

She rolls around on the couch.

She finds entertainment in the most unexpected places.

She has a habit of making people laugh without even trying.

Seeing Fifi finally relax, feel secure, and simply enjoy being a cat has been incredibly rewarding. Now she’s ready for the next chapter: a loving forever home of her own.

We think it’s about time Fifi had a couch of her own to take over.

Fifi is looking for someone who will give her the time she needs to settle in and the love she deserves. In return, you’ll get to watch her confidence grow and discover just how special she is.

Could you be the person she’s been waiting for?

Meet and greets in Dora Creek
1 year old and all vet work complete

03/06/2026

🌿 Meet Juniper 🌿

Juniper is so breathtakingly beautiful she genuinely looks like she belongs on a kitten food commercial. But her sweet nature is even more special than her picture-perfect looks.

The gentle soul of Willow’s kittens, Juniper has a quiet, thoughtful personality that makes her an absolute delight to be around. In fact, she is so polite that when she wants to tell you something, she’ll often look you straight in the eye and do a completely silent meow.

Unlike some of her more adventurous siblings, Juniper prefers to keep all four paws safely on the ground. She loves to play, but she’s incredibly gentle, carefully nibbling fingers without ever bringing her claws into the game.

When the excitement of kitten life winds down, Juniper’s favourite place is wherever the cuddles are. She is a true lap kitten who happily curls up for a cosy snuggle and some quiet company.

Having grown up alongside dogs, gentle children and other cats, Juniper has developed into a confident and well-rounded kitten who takes new experiences in her stride.

Like all young kittens, Juniper thrives on feline companionship and will need to be adopted with another kitten or into a home with a friendly young resident cat.

📍 Meet and greets available in Wallsend.

🐾 Microchipped
🐾 First vaccination completed
🐾 Flea and worm treated
🐾 Remaining vet work included through Cat Rescue Lake Macquarie

If you’re looking for a gentle, affectionate companion with movie-star looks and the sweetest little personality, Juniper may be the kitten for you.

01/06/2026

Jesse’s story began in the bush.

She was found abandoned and alone, with nobody looking for her and nowhere safe to go.

She was friendly.
She had been owned.
She had been dumped.

When the rangers asked if we could take her along with Moose, we said yes. Even though we are full. Even though no one wants cats and older kittens.

At the time, I had no idea that this tiny kitten would grow into such a confident little character.

Small in size but big in personality, Jesse approaches life at full speed.

She’s curious, playful and always on the move, investigating every corner of the house and turning the simplest toy into the best game ever. Nothing much fazes her. She’s the kind of kitten who walks into a room like she owns it.

One of the best things that’s happened since Jesse came into care is meeting Moose.

Despite arriving from completely different circumstances, the two have formed a beautiful friendship and spend their days playing, exploring and keeping each other company.

It’s hard to believe that the little kitten found alone in the bush is now such a happy, confident girl.

Now Jesse is ready for the next chapter.

A home of her own.

A family to love.

And, ideally, a future that includes her best friend Moose.

After everything she’s been through, we’d love to see Jesse finally get the happy ending she deserves.

🐾 Meet and greets available in Wangi Wangi
🐾 All vet work completed, including desexing, vaccination and microchip

To enquire about Jesse (and hopefully Moose too!), please send us a message.

31/05/2026

ADOPTION PENDING

🖤 Meet Clover 🖤

If Clover could choose her perfect day, it would involve a warm blanket, a full food bowl, a feline friend to snuggle with, and a human who doesn’t mind a little conversation along the way.

Born in care and raised surrounded by love, Clover has grown into a gentle, affectionate little girl who simply loves company. She was the first of her siblings to decide humans were worthy of her trust, and she’s never looked back.

Whether she’s curled up beside her foster brother Orpheus, snuggled with her siblings, or following her people around the house, Clover is happiest when she’s with those she loves. She even has a sweet little voice that she uses to remind everyone when dinner should be arriving.

Having grown up alongside dogs, gentle children and other cats, Clover is a confident and well-rounded kitten who takes new experiences in her stride.

Like all young kittens, Clover thrives on feline companionship and will need to be adopted with another kitten or into a home with a friendly young resident cat.

📍 Meet and greets available in Birmingham Gardens.

🐾 Microchipped
🐾 First vaccination completed
🐾 Flea and worm treated
🐾 Remaining vet work included through Cat Rescue Lake Macquarie

For the lucky family who adopts her, Clover will be a constant companion, a cuddle buddy, and a loyal little shadow who fills the house with warmth, love and plenty of purrs.