Inverell people were locked up in the pandemic, but didn't turn to cat companionship. Residents are still being plagued with incessant waves of mice, yet are not seeking feline assassins to help out.
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While RSPCA figures from across the state and country show a massive spike in cat adoptions, Inverell's branch said they've had "not one inquiry".
More than 70 cats and 98 kittens were adopted in week one of RSPCA's NSW cat adoption promotion, an increase of 51 per cent compared to the same time last year.
But Inverell has only one cat carer: Barb Davis.
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She said cat numbers were currently at the "largest I've ever seen", and after being at max capacity of 30 cats for weeks, she's taking a "well earned break", treasurer Margaret Payne explained.
She and secretary Judy Bloomfield think Inverell resident should consider adopting a cat - that's already been desexed, flea-ed, wormed, microchipped, etc.
"I think they really should!" Ms Payne said.
"But in general, I think that there is a lot less domestic pets than they are used to be. People are just too busy."
Yet on the other hand, Mrs Bloomfield said maybe it was a good thing people aren't rushing in to get cats for mice.
"I guess it is surprising, but then, what do you do if you get a cat to reduce the amount of mice, and then when the mice leave, you are stuck with a cat you didn't want - and we are back to the same cycles."
While adoptions have dried up, the trio are pleased a cat desexing program has been going well.
In partnership with Gowrie Vet Clinic and the Inverell Shire Council, over 80 cats have been desexed at a discount - available to everyone, not just those with concessions.
"People are giving away kittens. That's all well and good. They're beautiful kittens. But at four months old, they are capable of breeding. They go out, breed, get pregnant, and they are just left. And each then get another five to six kittens," Mrs Bloomfield said.
"So this is us playing our part to stem the flow."
Find information about the cat desexing program by visiting Inverell Shire Council's website.
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