<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are calls for the state government to enforce stricter cat ownership laws as well over half a million strays roam Sydney's streets, but in the meantime, a small band of feline lovers are hunting the hunters to round them up and find them homes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The growing population of unowned cats is putting increased pressure on native wildlife, with the number of strays in the city estimated to be 600,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Registered charity Clementine Cats is making a grassroots effort to address the issue, focusing on trapping, desexing, and rehoming the animals. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/western-australia-kalgoorlie-boulder-stinky-town-notices-an-improvement-after-adding-lime-to-source-of-odour/9aaedbe6-66a5-46a6-86f2-3521881903c7"><strong><span>Stinky town notices an improvement after expert sniffs out source of odour</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Operating in Sydney's south-west, volunteers like Shirley locate cat colonies in industrial areas. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The process begins with building trust through feeding, which allows them to assess the animals' condition and plan their capture.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She deserves the efforts that we put into rehome her as well and capture her and she will do well in a home I think," Shirley says after finally catching one stray who evaded three previous attempts.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/stray-cats-sydney/1d0b824a-fcc0-4e94-af8b-d812e0c58a12" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"One more (cat off Sydney's streets), and a lot more to go."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-customers-to-recieve-personal-information-about-data-stolen-in-cyber-attack/b62d3b0b-52aa-4a7d-86fb-6a584bacdd45"><strong><span>The email six million Australians should expect from Qantas</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But with 30 per cent of owners not desexing their cats, along with a rise in the number of cats being dumped, it can feel like a losing battle, and an expensive one – the vet bill for each cat before rehoming is around $700.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW government is currently reviewing its Companion Animals Act, while the Invasive Species Council is calling for mandatory desexing and stricter containment laws for pet cats. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"66 million native animals are killed every year in Greater Sydney by roaming pet cats," spokesperson Jack Gough said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That needs to stop."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>