'If you're thinking of getting a cat, get it neutered'
A local cat rescue shelter is holding a pop-up shop sale in order to raise funds for a trap, neuter and release (TNR) programme.
Kittten Cottage Animal Sanctuary recently carried out one of these programmes in Cootehill, Cavan town and in Kells.
"I am getting phone calls every day," Máire Egan of Kitten Cottage told the Celt.
The most recent came via their Facebook page from a person who has forty cats at their home.
"It's gone beyond a joke at this stage," Máire said, adding that she is "trying" her best to help people in this situation.
The sanctuary has neutered a "huge amount" of cats in 2025, with a whopping €9,600 in veterinary fees so far this year, mostly made up of neutering expenses.
"We want to do a serious TNR because it's just getting out of control."
For those who do have cats around their home or business, Máire said the sanctuary will help as much as they can "depending on money", however she urged people to get the cats neutered.
"If an animal comes into your yard or your garden and you feed it twice, it's your cat. You have to deal with it. The first thing you do with it is you book them into the vets.
"I know the vets are expensive for everybody, including ourselves, but it has to be done unless you want the situation that most other people have around the place."
The forty cats mentioned above is not shocking for Máire. She is currently dealing with another case where over the period of one year, one cat turned into 37.
"A cat can get pregnant at four months, and give you six kittens and nine weeks later she can give you another six kittens," she explained.
"If you're thinking of getting a cat, get it neutered," she urged.
Donations
Meanwhile loads of people have been giving donations for their pop-up shop which she hopes will help to alleviate the problem.
"We're going to try and do this every couple of months just to get the volume of cats reduced." Donations of clean toys in perfect condition will be accepted while some of the volunteers are also going to bake cakes to sell on the day. Máire also has a great interest in plants and plans to sell some on the day. Other items that can be donated include clothes, shoes, jewellery, "anything that we can think of."
"Things that you are not going to use but are still good enough to sell," she furthered. "It will all go towards trap, neuter and release."
The pop-up shop will be held on July 12 in Oldcastle Masonic Hall from 11am to 3pm.
Cash and Revolut will be accepted on the day.
In the meantime, donations can be dropped to Kitten Cottage Lurganboy, Virginia, A82X443. Call 0877676714 before arriving with donations and for any queries on the shop.