A free cat giveaway at the Emporia Animal Shelter has resulted in 60 cats getting new homes, but hasn’t greatly reduced the cat population at the shelter.

While the no-cost promotion has increased the amount of cats adopted, the number of cats being brought into the shelter has also increased, said Peggy Derrick, shelter director.

“We started to clean it out and now it’s back full again,” she said. “My goal was to get the visiting room and hallway back, and get the foster cats out of my basement.”

The normal $20 cat adoption fee is waived until Nov. 24. if you have the right coupons. The shelter, 1216 Hatcher St., is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The shelter had been overrun with cats needing a home. The vast majority of pet cats picked up by animal control aren’t retrieved by owners. A total of seven cats got picked up by their owners in 2009, Derrick said.

The shelter and Emporia Police Department suggested the free cat approach for two months. The Emporia City Commission said to give it a try.