Catherine McCullough’s Feline Finish Line Rescue was once again on Catasauqua Council’s agenda at the Sept. 6 meeting, as borough zoning officer Eugene Goldfeder reported McCullough will appeal a recent Catasauqua Zoning Hearing Board decision.

McCullough has a residential property in Catasauqua where she cares for abandoned and stray cats. Her nonprofit entity, Feline Finish Line Rescue, offers rescued cats for adoption to families at pet shops around the Lehigh Valley.

Goldfeder had cited McCullough earlier this year for violating local ordinances by running a business in a residential neighborhood and required her to appear before the borough zoning hearing board. At the hearing, McCullough and her lawyer declared that the company is a nonprofit entity and that no business is transacted at McCullough’s private residence.

McCullough testified she spends a considerable sum on vaccines and veterinary visits for the cats. Supporters provide assistance with cleaning and financial aid to care for stray cats.

She said there were no complaints from her neighbors.

The hearing was attended by dozens of supporters wearing lime green shirts who were willing to attest to the benefits of McCullough’s efforts.

After the zoning board reviewed the circumstances, it granted McCullough permission to continue her rescue efforts, but restricted the number of cats allowed on site to 10. At the time of the hearing, McCullough had an estimated 26 cats housed at her residence.

The McCullough residence is geared to cats, with most rooms supplied with cages and roaming trails set up to keep them occupied. Feline Finish Line Rescue supporters provide the manpower needed to keep the areas clean and to tend to the physical needs of the cats.

Goldfeder told the council McCullough and her attorney were not pleased with the decision of the zoning board and appealed the decision.

The matter now goes to common pleas court.

“We concur with McCullough’s decision to appeal. I don’t think the zoning board should have granted relief in the first place,” he said.

Goldfeder asked the council to authorize the borough solicitor to file a petition for review of the decision and to file a cross appeal.

The council unanimously passed the authorization.

“What we can do at the appeal is to file our petition to have them prohibited from keeping cats other than personal pets in a residential neighborhood,” he said.

A docket date has not yet been set for the appeal.