Free cat adoptions at Melbourne shelter

A Melbourne animal shelter is waiving adoption fees to try and re-home 400 cats and kittens that have been dumped since September last year.

Cats over the age of six months at Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne will have their $105 adoption fee waived in January to assist in finding them a new home.

"With so many kittens available adult cats tend to get overlooked," Lort Smith chief executive David Herman said.

The adoption fees have been waived but the shelter's in-depth adoption process still applies to ensure people get a cat that suits their needs.

The RSPCA estimates as many as 500,000 unowned cats are across Victoria, many of them strays.