Self-confessed cat whisperer Yvette Harper refers to her home as "a halfway house" for unwanted moggies.

She is training five feral animals, slowly introducing them to human contact and affection until they no longer fear her presence.

Ms Harper first began clearing the streets of Narrogin, Western Australia, of strays four years ago when she started the Street Cat Appeal Narrogin (SCAN).

Now, as a result of her hard work and dedication, more then 730 cats have been re-homed.

No other options

After Ms Harper moved to Narrogin, she discovered there were no facilities to house and care for stray cats in the town.

"There was no option for the cats [so] if they were caught, trapped, or lost then they were put down," she said.

"I approached the local vet to find out more and they confirmed there was nothing."

Nearly all of the cats that Ms Harper takes in would be classified as feral. ( ABC Great Southern: Aaron Fernandes )

Ms Harper already had contacts with Perth-based rescue and rehabilitation facilities, so decided to establish herself as the local carer in town.

"I was at that time thinking one or two cats a month but it didn't end up that way," she said.

"I think in the first year, I did 380 cats [so] it was clearly a big problem in town."

Community members bring strays to Ms Harper that they find hanging around while the local ranger uses her house as a holding facility.

"The first time I drove around the streets at 2am I saw at least 50 cats roaming around," she said.

"The last time I was out around that time I only saw 2."

From ferals to friends

According to Ms Harper, most of the cats she takes in would be classed as feral.

"These cats wouldn't have a chance if I didn't rehabilitate them," she said.

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"They would be put down straight away if taken to a vet.

"Out of the 700-odd cats I have cared for, only about 3 per cent have been euthanased due to either serious medical conditions or behavioural issues."

The largest feral cat Ms Harper has rehabilitated weighed a whopping 12 kilograms.

"He had never been in contact with a human but he now lives with a family and has a toddler for a best friend," she said.

"It takes time, sometimes up to 10 months, but I am prepared to give them that."

The cats that leave Ms Harper's house are not only sociable with humans but with dogs as well.

"Everything is done under the watchful eye of my Great Dane," she said.

"They get to a stage when you can pick them up and have a cuddle and that's very special.

"I don't have an age limit but the older cats are special because you can see when they find their confidence and learn that people are okay.

"I still tear up when I get the very first purr out of them."

Woman on a mission

Ms Harper's work is mostly self-funded with a handful of donations sent in by the community.

"I get support from the rescue centres in Perth and I have a mobile vet who calls in and donates her time," she said.

"I can't work full-time so this is something I can do to better the community and the cats are finding homes they never would have had otherwise."

Ms Harper has kept a few of the cats she has rehabilitated over the years. ( ABC Great Southern: Aaron Fernandes )

Ranger with the Shire of Narrogin, Guy Maley, said his job had been made a lot easier since Ms Harper had been helping.

"We work well with Yvette. She was willing to help which was great for me and for the Shire," he said.

"Four years ago, it was a big problem.

"Even in the CBD, you had cats walking around with birds in their mouths; it's not good for business.

"Sometimes there would be 20 cats, or up to 40 cats that we'd catch in a four-day period.

"We'd be lucky to get one or two per month now."

Feral cats in towns different to feral cats in the bush

Genevieve Harvey is the natural resource management officer for the nearby Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone.

She said that while Ms Harper's work in Narrogin was a very good thing, she believed the feral cats living remotely across Australia were a different kind of species altogether.

Shire of Narrogin ranger Guy Maley says he been catching fewer feral cats since the rehabilitation operation began. ( ABC Great Southern: Aaron Fernandes )

"Providing these cats go to responsible homes, I think what she is doing for the urban feral cats is a good thing," Ms Harvey said.

"Especially if they are going through proper rescue facilities in Perth and are going through microchipping and desexing.

"There are very intermittent control measures on cats in urban areas so it's better when someone is doing something."

Ms Harvey argued that this work did not significantly impact those cats causing major environmental problems.

"Those feral cats in the bush areas, away from towns, I believe a lot of those you just could not tame," she said.

"They are a different kind of cat and are very dangerous."

Ms Harper acknowledged that not everybody agreed with the work she is doing.

"You're always going to have that argument. It's a 50-year problem in this town," she said.

"There's been nothing done, so it's 50 years' worth of cats that I've cleaned up.

"Ultimately, there's less wildlife being destroyed."