The Winnipeg Humane Society is offering cats and kittens at a discounted price this week in the hopes of relieving severe overcrowding at its shelter.

Over the past month, the agency has sent more than 200 cats to foster homes to make more room at the shelter.

Adult cats are available for $25 at the Winnipeg Humane Society this week.

Now, the foster cats — mostly mother cats and their kittens — are ready for adoption and are returning to the shelter.

Shelter officials estimate they will have close to 600 cats once all the fostered animals return.  They've reduced the adoption fee for felines to try to encourage cat-lovers to make room in their homes for the animals.

“We rarely need to reduce the price of kittens,” executive director Vicki Burns said in a release, “but the space issue has become so dire we felt it was time."

Until Aug. 6, the fee for adult cats will be $25, down from the regular $79. Kittens are available for $65, instead of the usual $131.

Adoption fees include spaying or neutering, microchips and ear tattoos, first vaccinations and six weeks of pet insurance.