Elizabeth Park residents say three cats were left to die in cages

Three cats were left to die in cages hidden under a tarpaulin, neighbours say, after they were abandoned when tenants vacated the house almost a week earlier.

It was just the wavering “meows” of three trapped cats left dumped in cages at a tenantless northern suburbs home that saved their lives, neighbours say.

The three cats were found in cages hidden under a large tarpaulin at a recently tenantless Elizabeth Park home on Wednesday.

A neighbour, who has asked to remain anonymous, told The Messenger the cats had been left for at least four days before she and her mother noticed their pained cries and contacted the house’s real estate agent to get permission to head on to the property.

“We went to the house and found the three cats that were still alive,” she said.

“They were under a shelter and under tarps and left in their cages.

Three cats left behind, covered by a tarp and in cages, at an Elizabeth Park home. Picture: Supplied

“We lifted up a tarp and saw one cage, and then we lifted up the other tarp and saw the second cage, it was awful.

“I still feel sick about it, but I’m just so glad we found them.”

The neighbour said her mother had heard the cats’ “meows” four days earlier but assumed they were living safely in a house.

When she later returned and their cries had become more urgent, she felt like something was wrong and acted.

It was understood the previous tenants had been evicted from the property after living there with 10 cats and two dogs.

The RSPCA was contacted by The Messenger but said they had not received a report about the incident and so could not pursue action.

Since being rescued the stranded cats have been rehomed.

It was not known what happened to the rumoured seven cats remaining, or the dogs.