Go to any animal shelter that takes in strays, and you'll find plenty of friendly cats.

It doesn't take an expert to see that these animals may be strays, but they're not wild by any measure. Like millions of other pets, they've likely slept on beds, rubbed ankles lovingly and run to the sound of a can opener at dinnertime.

People are surely missing these cats, looking for them and hoping for their return. Without collars and tags, though, the chances of any of these pets being reunited are very low. Some may get adopted, but most will never get another chance to show what wonderful pets they are. All because they weren't wearing collars and tags.

Why are cat lovers so resistant to collaring their cats? I decided to count the collars on the dozens of cats I see on my morning walks. After a week, the total number of collared cats came to two, both enjoying the morning sunshine in front of the same house.

I know that some people tire of replacing collars their cats keep slipping off, while others are convinced their cats will get caught by collars while roaming. Neither argument holds much credence, though: Cat collars are relatively inexpensive and very safe.

Cat collars are made of lightweight material and designed to "give" enough to let your cat wriggle free should the collar ever catch on something. Don't get a puppy collar by mistake: Dog collars are meant to prevent escapes, while cat collars are made to allow them. The fit should be snug, but not uncomfortably so.

Once you've got the right collar, order a tag. ID tags come in high-impact plastic in a variety of colors and shapes, or in metal, also in many varieties, such as circles, cat's heads, reflectors and so on. Since cat tags are small, don't bother with putting your cat's name on it, or your address. Instead, fill all the space you're allowed with phone numbers -- not only yours, but also those of a friend or relative who can be reached if you're unavailable. I also like to put the word "reward" on the pet tags I order.

You could alternatively consider a tag from a 24-hour assistance service, such as 1-800-HELP-4-PETS. In addition to reuniting lost pets with their owners, the service will authorize emergency veterinary care or boarding if a pet is found and the owner can't be reached immediately. (More information can be found on the service's Web site, www.help4pets.com.)

Microchips are a form of ID that has come on strong in recent years, but they work best as a complement to tags, not as a replacement for them. The microchip is permanent identification that's about the size of a grain of rice, which your veterinarian can insert beneath the skin over your pet's shoulder blades using a large needle.

The chip, encased in a nonreactive glass casing, contains a unique identifying number that can be read by a scanner, kind of like those in the grocery store. The American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery Service offers a microchip registry for all pets, with operators on call night and day to help when a microchipped pet is found. (For more information on CAR, call (800) 252-7894, or visit www.akc.org/love/car.)

Remember, though, that most lost pets are found not by shelter staffers but by neighbors, and neighbors don't have microchip scanners in their collection of home appliances. Which is why even though a microchip can't be topped for permanent identification, you'll still need a collar and tag for your pet.

If more people thought to buy collars and tags, more of those shelter cats would find their way home. Happy endings often start with pet lovers who care enough to prepare for the worst. Doesn't your cat deserve a ticket home?

PETS ON THE WEB

Anyone with an interest in aquariums should visit the Bluebin Web site (www.bluebin.com). The site offers plenty of information on setting up both freshwater and saltwater tanks, as well as on keeping the fish and their surroundings healthy. The section on reef tanks is especially thorough, with information on dozens of species of coral, along with links to message boards for discussing problems with more experienced hobbyists.

The site also includes a helpful glossary and information on various fish diseases. Be sure to check out the Tank of the Month for an eye-popping exhibition of the marvelous ecosystems some people enjoy in their own homes.

THE SCOOP

When it comes to the litter box, the only opinion that matters is your cat's. When a cat doesn't like the box, the placement, the filler, the level of cleanliness or the accessories, he'll be tempted to take his business elsewhere. And nobody wants that.

Two items that are marketed to human sensibilities may be especially annoying to some cats. Litter-box liners make it easier to change out the contents of the box, but some cats don't like the feel of plastic under their paws as they scratch to bury their waste. Likewise, deodorant products intended to make the box smell better to people may be disgustingly strong to the sensitive nose of a cat.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Thank you for coming down on people for letting their cats roam. I think you should know that there's another good reason for keeping cats inside: They kill songbirds!

My husband and I just built a new home in the foothills, and we have put in feeders and birdbaths to attract the birds. We love to watch the birds, but we have found that our bird-feeding efforts also attract the neighbor's cats. They have already killed several birds. We talked to the neighbors and have gotten nowhere.

We don't hate cats, but we like birds better. Would you keep up your crusade to keep cats inside? Songbird populations are dropping because of irresponsible pet owners. -- D.O., via e-mail

A: Yes, it's true that some cats kill birds, but putting the blame on cats for reductions in songbird populations misses the bigger picture. We who live in glass houses (or new wood ones) really shouldn't be throwing stones at cats. Our widespread destruction of habitat has a far greater impact on bird populations than cats ever could.

Still, your neighbors are being less than considerate of you, and less than concerned about their cats. Some people think when they move to "the country" that it's safe for their pets to run free, but rural areas have their own risks every bit as deadly as those in more urban settings.

Outdoor cats in rural areas face one of the most successful predators in the world -- coyotes. An acquaintance of mine who lives on rural property has lost more barn cats than she can count to coyotes. She doesn't like losing them, but rationalizes the loss by arguing that they're feral animals with a job to do -- keeping the barn free of rodents. (She also has two purely pet cats who stay inside.)

Try again with your neighbors, perhaps by explaining the risk their cats take every time they set a paw outside. If nothing else, ask them to put bells on their cats' collars. The strategy isn't foolproof -- some cats get quite adept at silent stalking, even when belled -- but it might give the birds a fighting chance.

Q: Is it true that an iguana will grow a new tail if it loses the one it has? -- A.H., via e-mail

A: The ability to lose a tail can be a lifesaver for iguanas. If caught by a predator, an iguana can escape by dropping the tail, leaving it still wriggling in the mouth of the creature who thought lunch was in the bag. The trick isn't used just with predators: More than a few people who are new to having an iguana as a pet have ended up screaming the first time they find themselves holding a thrashing tail instead of an iguana.

Smaller iguanas are more likely than larger ones to regrow their tails, usually in a few weeks. If the tail is in place but injured, or is only partially broken off, a visit to a veterinarian with experience in reptiles is in order to determine the best course of treatment.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

Where will you be in 10 or 15 years? If you can't answer the question with any degree of certainty, then you shouldn't be in the market for a pet.

For too many people, pets are an impulse purchase made with no thought to the future. At least one prominent behaviorist suggests that half the puppies and kittens born every year won't see their second birthdays. The people they rely on simply stop caring once the novelty of having a pet has worn off.

I've been spending a lot of time in shelters lately, and I'm always most astonished and saddened by the old pets who can be found there. It breaks my heart to see the old-timers abandoned. Who could say goodbye to pets like these, and why would they?

When I was doing foster and rescue work, our little group once got a call about a 10-year-old sheltie. "I'm moving to Oregon today, and I can't take the dog," said the caller. Squelching the desire to say that to the best of my knowledge, dogs were allowed in Oregon, I made arrangements to meet with the man in an hour and take in the dog.

In the parking lot of a fast-food outlet a short time later, I snapped a leash on the sweet old dog. The man signed him over without even a trace of emotion. "Getting rid of the dog" was the last item on his to-do list, and he was in a hurry to accomplish it.

"Too bad the new landlord won't take pets," muttered the man, who then drove off without a pat for the dog or even a backward glance. Was he that disinterested when the dog was a fluffy puppy? I doubted it.

"Too bad you didn't look harder," I muttered to myself, as the old dog leaned against me, his eyes full of uncertainty. I have known people who have gone to incredible lengths to keep their pets, including one military couple who moved nearly every year with a half-dozen cats. They would have no more left their pets behind than they would have their children. Too bad this man wasn't one of the people who at least make an effort for their pets.

Yes, there are times when new homes must be found for pets. Catastrophic events such as serious illness, financial collapse and family breakups often leave pets homeless, despite the best efforts of the people involved. I myself had to give up a dog a few years back, following a near-fatal illness and a long, difficult recovery. I placed him myself, checked on him for a couple of years after he left and worry about him to this day.

Too often, though, people don't even try to make it work: to look a little harder or pay a little more for a place that takes pets, or to work through whatever other problems are challenging the pet's chance at staying in the home. The problem is often that the person who got the pet in the first place didn't think at the time about what it means to care for a pet for the rest of the animal's life.

The dog I picked up that day, from the man in the fast-food parking lot, was one of the lucky ones. While some of the old dogs we took in were too ill to be placed in new homes, this one was very healthy, and was blessed with a sweet and gentle temperament. Renamed Major, he spent the last seven years of his life in the home of my pet-loving neighbors, and no dog was ever more loved or better cared for.

But happy endings such as Major's cannot be assured. Which is why if you're thinking of taking in a pet, you must ask yourself: Where will I be in 10 years, or 15? Because if you aren't prepared to do what it takes to keep a pet for that long, don't get one now.

THE SCOOP

Never give a bath to a pet with mats -- you'll only make the problem worse. Instead, before you pop your pet into the tub, take time to work out the mats gently, or cut out the ones that won't go without a fight.

To work out a mat, sprinkle cornstarch on it and then work the powder into the tangle. When that's done, carefully slide the bottom half of a pair of sharp scissors into the mat at the skin level, and slice through the mess vertically a couple of times from the skin out. You can then pick apart the mat with a wide-toothed metal comb. Be sure to check out behind the ears or under the forelegs, places that seem especially conducive to the formation of mats.

If your pet's coat has gotten completely out of control, make arrangements to have the animal clipped short by a professional groomer. Getting a fresh start is far kinder on a pet than trying to pull apart a badly matted coat.

PETS ON THE WEB

Anyone who has ever shared space with a hamster knows the little charmers have a need to stay busy. Ever wonder how much those hamster wheels roll in a given day? Then check out the San Diego Hamster Cage (http://varesearch.ucsd.edu/KLEMFUSS/sdhamstr.htm), an ongoing project at the University of California-San Diego that tracks not only how far a hamster goes every day on his wheel, but when he uses it.

Sammy the hamster at the heart of the project really travels: Days of eight kilometers or more are not uncommon. He hits the wheel every day at almost exactly the same time, with the dedication most of us on-and-off exercisers will surely envy.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I have an 8-month-old bichon fris who has had ear problems since he was 11 weeks old. We have done the homeopathic route, and it has done nothing at all. I apply aloe vera, Polysporin, tea tree oil, zinc and rosewater, and I clean his ears twice a day. He has not had any shots, and he is on a holistic diet. What am I missing? -- J.P., via e-mail

A: What you are missing is a trip to a good veterinarian. While each of the alternative-care remedies you are using has its advocates, treating a chronic problem without an accurate diagnosis is wasting your time and money and is causing your pup months of ongoing pain.

Stop all the home remedies and see your veterinarian. You need to be prepared to pay for a thorough examination and possibly some diagnostic tests. And realize, too, that ear problems can be very difficult to treat, and you will likely need to return to the veterinarian for re-checks, possibly new medications and additional follow-up care.

Once the ear problem is under control, you'll need to keep your pet's ear canals free of hair. Breeds like the bichon and poodle should routinely have the hair in their ears pulled. Your veterinarian can show you how, or you can have a professional groomer do it when your pet gets his regular wash and trim.

Q: I am owner of a short-haired Oriental cat, white with blue eyes. She is also deaf, which I have been told is very common for her type. She is 1 year old now, but is taking a long time to trust. We are having some problems with scratching furniture. Can you help? -- M.E., via e-mail

A: Yes, you're right: Deafness is not uncommon in blue-eyed white cats. According to the "Cornell Book of Cats" (Villard), between 65 percent and 85 percent of these cats are deaf. White cats with only one blue eye are 40 percent likely to be deaf, with the affected ear usually on the same side as the blue eye.

One of the most important things to do for your deaf cat is to keep her indoors, since she cannot use her ears to alert her to danger.

Build up your cat's trust in you very gradually. Instead of surprising her by picking her up, lure her to you with yummy food treats, and use these rewards to get her to enjoy time in your lap. Be aware always of when she has had enough -- a twitching tail tip is a surefire sign. Never force her to stay longer than she wants to: When she gets fidgety, let her go. You'll find that if you don't push her to the point of irritation, the amount of time she'll tolerate affection will slowly increase.

As for the scratching, make sure she has a cat tree near the furniture she's clawing, and encourage her to use it by offering her treats and strokes when she's on it, as well as playing with her and her toys. At the same time, you can discourage her use of the furniture by applying double-sided tape (or a product like Sticky Paws strips) to the area she's damaging.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

A headset holding back her thick gray hair and a look of gentle amusement on her face, Marla Baer is shifting through her voicemail messages at the Dumb Friends League in Denver.

Her first regards a cat who's scratching furniture. She takes some notes and moves on to the next problem: a dog who's escaping the yard. Then a cat who's spraying the baseboards with urine.

She takes a deep breath and starts returning phone calls. Baer, a staff counselor for the league's pioneering pet behavior help line, has a real knack for her job, dispensing humor, compassion and information in equal measure. Still, she has her work cut out for her every time she picks up the phone. Some problems can be fixed, she knows, while others cannot. The hardest cases she deals with are those that can be fixed, but the pet's owner can't do what's needed -- or won't even try.

Baer herself never stops trying -- listening, cajoling, advising, telling jokes and stories. She deftly defuses the anger of one person, soothes the tears of another. Nothing out of the norm for Baer, except that on this day her phone is connected to the headsets of a half-dozen others who are here from around the country to learn how she does her job.

The eavesdroppers are all experienced shelter workers, brought to Denver to be part of a Pets For Life seminar. Every three months, about two dozen participants go through the intensive two-week course, which is designed to give shelters the information they need to help people in their own communities solve common pet behavior problems. Pets For Life is sponsored by charitable grants, administered by the Humane Society of the United States and taught by the staff of the Dumb Friends League at the organization's main Denver shelter.

"Shelter behavior programs will save as many lives as spaying and neutering," says Bob Rohde, president of the Dumb Friends League. He believes it, too: The league has been a pioneer in putting such programs into place, which is why people from other shelters come to Denver to see what the organization is doing.

The combination of pre-adoption training and post-adoption counseling at the league has reduced the number of pets who "boomerang" -- are adopted out and promptly returned because of behavior problems. The league also works to make sure potential adopters have a realistic idea of what's involved in keeping a pet, so they can cope with the responsibility and the expense.

The results overall have been promising, with a 7 percent drop in returns. There's no doubt, though, that the help line is at the heart of the shelter's behavior services. Last year, the league's staff of nine, plus about three times that many volunteers, handled 7,400 calls. The organization's Web page (www.ddfl.org) was busy as well, taking some 60,000 hits a month on its behavior pages.

Since the league's free advice is available to anyone who has a pet, not just to those who adopted an animal from the league, it's reasonable to assume that countless additional animals who were on the verge of being abandoned stayed in their homes because of the help their owners got from the help line or Web page.

These are the kind of results that have shelter workers from around the country standing in line to attend Pets For Life classes. Lessons include not only solutions to animal-behavior problems, but also reading feline and canine body language, no-punishment dog-training techniques, behavior management in a shelter setting, and counseling skills for dealing with the human half of the equation.

Back on the headsets, Baer tells her observers that the last set of skills is probably most important of all. Getting through to people is everything in this business. The help line counselor says she can't wait until there are plenty more trained just as she is -- and thanks to Pets For Life, there soon will be. And then she smiles and calls the owners of the kitty with a spraying problem as the others lean forward to listen.

PETS ON THE WEB

You don't have to be in Denver to get help from the Dumb Friends League, since the organization has put all its behavior information on its Web site. By clicking on Behavior Info from the league's home page (www.ddfl.org), you can access a library of information to help with both feline and canine misbehavior, including advice on house-training and on such destructive problems as scratching in cats and digging in dogs. The information is thorough and easy-to-follow, and has been reviewed by experienced behaviorists.

THE SCOOP

"Reel-type" leashes -- the Flexi is probably the best-known brand -- are very popular, and rightfully so. They allow dogs a little bit of freedom while keeping them technically on leash.

But if you have a strong, out-of-control dog, you shouldn't be using a Flexi. That's because this kind of leash actually encourages the dog to pull -- if he does, he gets more room. Plus, the handle on the reel-type leash is very hard to hold onto if the dog jerks against the line suddenly.

If your dog isn't well-trained, you're better off sticking with a traditional leash so you'll have the control you need in a pinch.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: My two 5-year-old, spayed, female German shorthair pointers have lived all their lives thus far on fenced rural acreage where they can run, dig and chase birds to their hearts' content. Soon I will be moving to a house in the city with a medium-sized yard. What advice can you give me on how to retrain them so we can all live there contentedly? -- R.K., via e-mail

A: Your dogs will adjust fine if you pay attention to the most basic need of large, active dogs like these: exercise.

Few dogs get enough exercise, and the lack of a heart-thumping daily outing contributes to such behavior problems as digging, barking, chewing and more.

Consider that many of the most popular breeds and mixes are descended from animals who were bred to work: to herd sheep, retrieve ducks, pull sleds and so on. Is it any surprise that such animals are bored out of their heads when left alone for hours and hours at a time? A couple of short walks a week and maybe a game of fetch a few times a month will not fulfill their need to move their bodies to the point of exhaustion.

When I was living on the Florida panhandle for six months, my two retrievers had the Gulf of Mexico as their back yard. They ran the beach and swam for an hour or more each day. When we had to come home to California, we returned to our small urban cottage with a postage-stamp back yard.

They've made the adjustment well, because they are exercised daily. I take them out each morning, one at a time, to run alongside my bike for a half-hour or more. With their basic exercise needs satisfied, they are content to nap while I work. We also hit the dog park a couple of times a week.

Your dogs will be happy where you are, as long as they are a part of your life and get the exercise they need, an aerobic outing at least 20 minutes in length, preferably every day.

Q: Thanks for including the letter from the mom of Leo (the dog who was thrown into traffic and killed) in your recent column.

May we honor his memory by looking at our own speech and behavior: Stopping cruelty of all sorts begins and ends with each of us. His terrible death and the suffering of those he left behind have motivated me to be a better person. -- C.J.W., Chico, Calif.

A: I was pleased to see that the man who threw Leo into traffic received the maximum sentence allowed by law. I am grateful to the dog's owner, Sarah McBurnett, for seeing the matter through to its conclusion and for fighting so hard to see the man responsible for her dog's death brought to justice.

No animal-cruelty case has ever sparked so much discussion -- even the staid Wall Street Journal had an opinion on the case and its outcome. What I hope comes out of the matter is an increased awareness of the link between cruelty to animals and crimes against people (this case was both), and that the outcome sends a message to abusers that their crimes will no longer be taken lightly.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600