But thanks to the hard working volunteers at Saving Cats, he was returned happy and unharmed to his family.

Gorokan volunteer Kim Norbury found George in one of the group's humane cat traps.

"When they scanned him at the vet, they said he had been missing for almost a year to the day," Ms Norbury said.

George disappeared when the owners moved house.

"He had slipped out the door, and because it was a new house he had no idea where he was and couldn't find his way back," Ms Norbury said.

George is just one of the many cats that Saving Cats has helped.

Ms Norbury, who fosters up to 30 cats at any one time, encouraged others to foster a cat.

"I'm sure that there are so many people out there who would love to help but haven't known how to," she said.

"The hardest part is just saying 'I'll give it a go'."

Ms Norbury said she was worried she would get too attached to the cats, but she found rehoming them was rewarding.

"I underestimated how much pleasure you get from rehabilitating and rehoming a cat," she said.

People shouldn't let the financial impact put them off, as there are lots of places that give foster carers discounts, she said.

"Everything is basically paid for through the rescue - if you love animals, you are capable of doing it."

The organisation is also encouraging people to adopt a cat, many of which have been saved from death row in pounds.

"A lot of work, love, care and expense goes into every single one of the cats before they are ready for adoption," Ms Norbury said.

"Every single one of them has their own story."

■ Anyone interested in fostering or adopting a cat can visit savingcats.com.au or visit their Facebook page.