Port Stephens Cat Rescue desperately needs people to adopt cats and kittens.

Currently they are over-capacity with 65 kitties in care, down from 80.

This is their busiest time of the year being breeding season and people unfortunately dumping animals post-Christmas.

Crystal Brown runs the charity from her home in Salamander Bay, managing a team of foster carers from Salamander down to Newcastle.

Crystal told News Of The Area, “We would love to find our rescue cats good loving homes.”

All the cats and kittens come vaccinated, desexed, microchipped, wormed and receive a flea treatment.

It actually works out cheaper to adopt than get a ‘free’ kitten or to buy one when you factor in all the costs involved in responsible pet ownership.

Kittens cost $220 or $400 for two, from 0-6 months.

Adolescents (6-12 months) are $180 and adult cats over a year old cost $100.

The cost is also tax-deductible.

The message is clear: adopt don’t shop!

“Desexing and microchipping is so important; people need to keep their details up to date with the council,” Crystal said.

An average litter is four or five kittens, so without desexing, this soon explodes into a glut of cats requiring homes.

Donations are always needed and include food – wet and dry, cat litter, flea and worm treatments.

These can all be placed in donation bins situated at Woolworths in Salamander Bay, Medowie and Raymond Terrace North; Greencross Vets at Tanilba Bay and Cubbins Cattery at Salt Ash.

Monetary donations are needed too – direct to the charity with details on their Facebook page.

If you are interested in giving these furbabies a home, please contact Crystal, preferably via the Facebook page or email: catrescueportstephens@outlook.com. You can also call 4984 3343.

This reporter has seen the kittens pictured and can assure readers that they are absolutely paw-some!

By Sarah STOKES