"I'm absolutely disgusted. They should be castrated with a rusty meat cleaver."
Mrs O'Donnell's neighbour noticed the felines, apparently a young mother cat and several kittens, plus several tabby kittens from a different litter, on Monday afternoon.
They were well-fed, healthy and friendly.
"They are happy wee things. That anyone should do this to them is despicable."
Three neighbours were feeding the cats and had made a shelter for them.
Four kittens had been caught and were living in a dog crate in Mrs O'Donnell's dining room.
Attempts were being made to catch the rest.
Mrs O'Donnell was looking for new homes for them.
"They can't stay here. We can't leave them to go feral or they will breed and may spread diseases."
If new homes were not found for the cat and kittens by the weekend, they would go the SPCA, she said.
SPCA Otago executive officer Phil Soper said the SPCA would take them.
"Owners are asked to try all they can to find new homes for animals they don't want any more and to use us as a last resort.
"But we will take abandoned animals."
Abandoning animals was an offence under the Animal Welfare Act, he said.
"Finding out who is responsible for abandoning animals is hard.
"But if we get enough evidence and ownership can be proved . . . we will prosecute," Mr Soper said.
If anyone wants to adopt a cat Mrs O'Donnell can be contacted on 476-2155.
