44 cats and kittens rescued after being abandoned
More than 40 cats have been rescued from an empty house after they were left abandoned, hungry and scared.
Ashfield District Council worked with rescue centres from across the East Midlands to rescue the felines in a very challenging case at a property in Sutton.
The resident was evicted from the house in November 2025 after a lengthy legal case where Council officers and Community Protection Officers were not allowed in for a long period of time. When they did finally get into the house, it was found to be in a very poor condition and a large number of cats had been abandoned in the property.
Sadly the cats had not been neutered and left to breed unchecked, and they were very hungry and scared. Finding all of the cats and rescues to take them proved a challenging task but with the support of the RSPCA and North Notts Cat Rescue, a total of 44 cats were found.
Many were under weight and in poor condition, including a large number of young cats and kittens.
Officers attended the property regularly to feed and water the cats, checking on their condition, until they were all rescued.
Cllr Tom Hollis, Ashfield District Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
"Thank you to everyone involved in safely rescuing these cats, this is a great result. I am pleased to hear that all of the cats from the house are receiving the care and attention they need and many have been adopted into loving homes.
“We would like to give special thanks to the RSPCA and North Notts Cat Rescue for rescuing and finding spaces for these cats, and giving them the love and attention they deserve. We hope that all of these cats find safe homes.”
Alison Jones, of North Notts Cat Rescue, said:
“These cats were living in horrendous conditions. With the help of Ashfield District Council, the RSPCA and our team, we were able to ensure all cats were safely taken in.
“We are now in the process of neutering, socialising and finding the right homes for such deserving cats.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said:
“We are delighted to have been able to work with our partners to help rescue these abandoned cats and help return them to full health, neuter them and find them loving new homes.
“Sadly we have an astonishing number of cats in our care who are looking for a new home and many have come from recent large-scale cruelty and neglect cases we have been called to deal with.
“Despite the best efforts of those who care for them, life in a cattery can be stressful for cats so by finding them loving homes as quickly as possible we can also free up space for other cats who need our help. So we would always urge anyone thinking of getting a cat to adopt from a reputable charity.
“Along with animal welfare groups and veterinary organisations, this case also highlights the importance of neutering as part of being a responsible pet owner. Cats are prolific breeders and females can get pregnant from as early as four months old, giving birth to up to 18 kittens a year.”
Anyone who is interested in adopting a cat or kitten is encouraged to contact North Notts Cat Rescue or the RSPCA to find out more.
Posted on 12 February 2026