BMD services towns and villages within the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Bathurst, and beyond.

Your Local Cat Rescue in the Blue Mountains and Districts:

As a small, volunteer-run registered charity and local cat rescue, BMD relies on the support of the community, donations, sales from the Katoomba Op-Shop, and nominal adoption fees to fund rescue efforts. Your support is integral to our mission, and we, along with other small, unfunded volunteer cat rescue organisations, strive to provide loving homes for the community's many cats and kittens in need.

Despite sometimes stretched resources, BMD's dedicated volunteers go above and beyond to help. They offer guidance, clarify issues, and provide valuable information. Rescuing a cat is often challenging, but BMD volunteers tackle it with unwavering dedication.

BMD's experienced senior rescue volunteers have encountered most cat rescue situations and are happy to assist people in making informed decisions to help cats in need. They maintain contact and provide ongoing support to ensure the best outcomes for cats and their new families.

Read BMD cat rescue stories and appeals here.

Common Questions around Local Cat Rescue include:

• How to trap or catch a cat safely?

• How to Report cat mistreatment?

• What are the options when unable to care for a pet cat?

• What assistance is there with trapping and rescuing cats from colonies or hoarding situations?

BMD's response to these and other enquiries depends on the situation and available resources. We help wherever possible. When foster care placements are at capacity, BMD volunteers will discuss alternative care strategies and provide support. 

If you are interested in becoming a Foster Carer please read here.

Many rescue cats are untamed and wary of humans. Multiple trapping attempts may be required to safely catch them. Once in BMD's care, these felines receive medical checks, vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, and any necessary rehabilitation. Under the watchful eyes of dedicated foster carers, the cats and kittens are made available for adoption once they are healthy and old enough to be desexed and microchipped.

The Work of a Local Cat Rescuer -

from a BMD Cat Rescue Volunteer:

Working in local cat rescue is never easy, but sometimes it is more challenging. To put it plainly - things can get very difficult. Between limited foster carers and dwindling funds, it is tough going.

Here are some of the things we can see every day:

• Cats needing extended periods of intensive veterinary treatment due to mistreatment and abuse.
• Cats have had chronic and terminal conditions. However, we want them to be as comfortable as possible in their time left.
• We have had cats coming into care with cigarette burns on their bodies, having been used as a living ashtray, and other injuries demanding immediate care.
• We have had a cat in care requiring surgery to remove cancer on her face as soon as she was well enough for an operation.

I'm so sick of seeing all the suffering.

Every day we see these stories, and we can't turn away. Every day we hope for the best for these cats and kittens and provide them with the care they need. Every day, we see and deal with all these terrible things. And every day, we need help to keep going.

We can only do it with your help. Even if it's just a share, it means the world if you can give.

Every dollar donated goes to the rescue cats towards desexing, vet work, food, litter, caring for cats and keeping our voluntary group afloat.

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The Journey of a Rescue Cat:

Rescue cats come from various circumstances and situations:

Dumped or Abandoned:

Cats and kittens are often found in awful circumstances. They have been found in bags or baskets, thrown out of vehicles, or wandering in strange places. Sometimes, people move home and simply leave their animals behind.

Surrendered:

People may find themselves in situations where they can no longer care for their feline family, such as moving to accommodation that does not allow pets or when facing health issues.

BMD may assist in rehoming these cats by advertising the cats for Assisted Rehoming on the Cats for Adoption web page and through Facebook.

Hoarding Situations:

Hoarding often stems from a desire to help and care for animals. Unfortunately, it can lead to too many cats and inadequate care, resulting in insufficient feeding, poor hygiene, and inadequate veterinary care. While hoarding cats may have started as an attempt to care for them, it often ultimately leads to severe neglect and consequent harm to them.

See the story of one of BMD's most challenging and confronting 'Hoarding rescue Situations' here. The cats and kittens involved in this rescue situation will forever remain in the hearts of BMD Volunteers and the excellent support community. 

Colonies:

A cat colony is a group of untamed, free-roaming cats living together where they can find food and shelter. These sites range from city streets and suburban neighbourhoods to rural farms and abandoned buildings. Colonies form wherever cats find food and shelter, rapidly multiplying as they reach sexual maturity at four to five months.

While many cats moving through local cat rescue organisations are in good health and easily adoptable, many require extensive veterinary intervention, socialisation, and a stable foster environment before they are ready for adoption.

Some rescue cats may never meet the requirements necessary to be adoption-ready. Despite their hardships, these cats will remain with their specialist foster carers.

Rescue Cats and Kittens with Special Needs:

At BMD, we sometimes have cats and kittens in care who have special needs when adopted.

These cats may be injured or disfigured. Some rescue cats may be scared due to their tough start in life or later traumatic experiences. Some cats may require special care or medication.  This is generally short-term. However, there can be situations when cats may need ongoing special care. It is best to discuss these needs with the Foster Carer. See more about Cats with Special Needs here.

Other cats are also often overlooked for adoption because they are 'just tabbies' or 'too old' or the superstition around 'black cats' or any other reason that does not fit with someone's ideal rescue cat. However, these cats have unique qualities and so much love to give. But watching them be ignored and left behind can be challenging.

How To Help Local Cat Rescue Efforts:

If you encounter a cat or cats in need, start by setting up a feeding routine to make it easier to trap or catch them. If the cat is microchipped, your local council ranger can assist in finding its home.

You can contact BMD for advice, or, depending on your location, you can contact a cat rescue organisation close to you.

Help Reduce the Impact of Cats on Local Flora and Fauna:

As cat lovers, it is essential to address the impact of roaming cats on the environment and native animals by:

Desexing ALL Cats:

Cats are prolific breeders. They reproduce rapidly by the time they are four to five months old, and desexing stops this population explosion.

Ceasing Unfettered Exposure to the Environment:

• Keep Cats Inside: Indoor cats can have a happy life with love, attention, toys, scratching posts, and climbing opportunities.
• Cat Enclosures and Cat Netting: Providing a safe, protected, enclosed environment outside.
• Leads and Carry Bags: With patience, cats can learn to walk on a lead or enjoy fresh air from a specially designed carry bag, backpack, or screened pram.

Why Adopt a Rescue Cat?

Adopting a rescue cat is incredibly rewarding. You will be providing a chance at a happy life for a cat or cats who have faced neglect or abandonment. Rescue cats generally understand this opportunity (well, we believe they do), and they form strong bonds with their new families. 

By welcoming a rescue cat into your home, you not only gain a loyal companion but also save a life and create a vacancy for another rescue cat to be saved. Plus, rescue cats often come with a unique history and personality, adding a special touch to your home.This act of compassion and love is incredibly empowering and can make a significant difference in your life and the life of a rescue cat.

Adopting a Rescue Cat from BMD:

All BMD rescue cats are lovingly fostered in homes until they are ready for adoption. All rescue cats offered for adoption have been desexed, undergone a general veterinary health check, received at least their first vaccination, and have been microchipped and litter-trained.

By adopting from BMD, you are giving a deserving feline a chance at a happy life. BMD has cats of all ages, from kittens to seniors, as well as cats with special needs and bonded pairs. All are waiting for their perfect match and forever home. Each cat has a unique history and a unique personality.

BMD's dedicated volunteers maintain contact with adoptive families and ensure that both adoptive families and adopted cats settle and meet each other's needs.

Many adoptive families provide photos and progress updates, which BMD shares in the newsletters, on the Facebook page, and the 'Cat Rescue Stories and Appeals' pages.

Challenges Facing BMD:

As a small rescue group, BMD faces numerous challenges, from limited foster carers and financial constraints to the emotional toll of dealing with cats that have suffered unimaginable cruelty. BMD Volunteers encounter heartbreaking cases daily, such as cats with severe injuries or used as living ashtrays. Yet, BMD remains committed to providing the care these resilient felines need to heal and find happy, loving forever homes.

Balancing the need for services, caring for an increasing number of ill and injured cats, responding to concerned people's requests for help, and managing limited incoming funds is a continuous struggle. Volunteers often commit their own time and resources to cover urgent needs.

You Can Make a Difference:

Every contribution, no matter how small, helps BMD continue this lifesaving work. Whether you choose to adopt (see here), foster (see here), donate (see here), visit the BMD Op-Shop in Katoomba, purchase goods, or share stories on social media, your support is invaluable.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of countless cats in need.