When a long-time friend of our family bought a home, she was surprised to find out that it came with a friendly outdoor cat. The previous owner of the home had died, and the heirs either didn't know about the cat or didn't care.

The family friend, who had never kept a pet and so wasn't really up on such issues as animal overpopulation, figured there was someone she could call, who'd pick up the cat, find her a new home and that would be that. No muss, no fuss.

Much as I hated to burst her bubble, I told the woman there was no solution quite so simple. Shelters and rescue groups do the best they can to find new homes for pets, but there just aren't enough homes, especially for adult cats. And I suggested that before she picked up that phone and made more work for an already overwhelmed rescue group or shelter, she try to find a home for the cat herself.

Are you in a similar situation, with a cat for whom you need to find a home? A stray who just turned up, or the cherished pet of a relative or friend who has passed on? While adult cats can be very hard to place -- they have the lowest rates of adoption for all animals at shelters -- it's not impossible to find a good home. Be patient and persistent, and follow these tips:

-- Spread the news. Make up fliers, take out an ad in your newspaper and use the Internet to spread the word. Post the fliers everywhere you can: bulletin boards at work, pet-supply stores and your veterinarian's office.

-- Ask a price. Asking for money stops those who collect "free to good home" pets for sale to research labs or to people who train dogs for fighting. A good rule of thumb: Charge an amount sufficient to cover the cost of the spaying/neutering and vaccinations you'll have done before placement, and promote the convenience for the new owner, who'll have the pet "ready to go."

-- Don't lie about the pet's problems or why she's being placed. Although finding a new home for a pet with problems takes longer, you can usually still do so. Some people love taking in pets who have "sob stories" attached to them, or who are physically or emotionally damaged. But the person who gets such a pet without warning is likely to bring her back, give her away or dump her.

-- Look for someone who understands that a pet is a commitment. Ask prospective adopters whether they've had pets before and what happened to them. The person who has had a lot of pets who disappeared, died young or were given away is probably not your best choice. Never forget that the pet is counting on you to find her a home where she'll be taken care of for the rest of her life.

If you cannot find a home in a reasonable amount of time, don't expect the cat to fend for herself by dumping her in the "country." People who live in rural areas can't care for all the pets who are dumped there. The kinder folks take them to a shelter; others shoot them, poison them or drown them. Even in the "wilderness," the lives of feral cats are full of suffering, shortened by disease, predation or accident.

Take the cat to a shelter or rescue group if you cannot find her a new home so she can get another chance at being chosen by someone who'll care for her.

Our family friend found a wonderful home for the cat - her own! And since then, she has found homes for two more half-wild strays who turned up on her property. All the cats are loved and cared for now.

PETS ON THE WEB

Is there nothing a Labrador retriever can't do? They serve as law-enforcement dogs, searching out everything from smuggled fruit to drugs to signs of arson. They're popular in programs that train dogs to work as helpers to people with disabilities, and a great many of them still perform their breed's original function, retrieving birds in all kinds of conditions for hunters. Despite all the things Labs can do, most of them serve as family pets, a job at which they also excel.

Is a Labrador right for you? Before you bring one into your life, check out Labrador Resources (www.labrador-resources.com). This well-designed and well-organized Web site offers page after page of fantastic advice for anyone who's thinking about getting a Lab, or already has one.

THE SCOOP

Chances are getting better all the time that when you take your pet to see a veterinarian, you'll be dealing with a woman. The New York Times recently reported that the number of female veterinarians has more than doubled in the last decade, while the number of men in the profession has fallen 15 percent. Men are still in the majority - 33,461 to 24,356 - but likely not for long, considering that three-quarters of veterinary students are women. The biggest reason for the change, according to many analysts, is that profession doesn't pay well considering the money and years invested in education, and certainly not when compared to human medical professionals.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: What do you do with a 17-pound monster cat who goes ballistic when he's at the veterinarian's? We've tried tranquilizers and taking him to the all-cats hospital, but when our 98-pound veterinarian touches him, he hisses, bites, scratches, and generally loses it!

This same cat has to be in your lap whenever you sit down, and his favorite place to sleep is on your pillow (and of course, he has to lick your face to make sure you notice him). Can you help? - C.L., via e-mail

A: The problem is more common than you know, and it always seems to be the sweetest cats who are such raging tigers at the vet.

Veterinarians (even 98-pound ones) and their staffs are quite capable of dealing with an angry or frightened kitty, although it won't be the highlight of their day. Work with your veterinarian to come up with a strategy to make the visit easier for you all, and realize that the staff will have to handle your pet firmly to prevent injuries to the cat and the people around him. Be sure you're using a hard-sided carrier for these trips -- never try to hold an angry cat in your arms, or transport him in something that lends very little protection, like a pillowcase.

You might also consider using a mobile veterinarian. Although your cat won't be any more pleased to see a veterinarian who makes house calls, at least he'll be spared the trauma of travel.

The temptation when you have a cat who hates the veterinarian is to avoid routine preventive veterinary care entirely. It's not uncommon for cats like these to never see a veterinarian after that first visit has gone so horribly wrong. If you go this route -- and I'm not recommending it, just acknowledging it as a choice many cat-lovers make -- the responsibility for spotting illness falls heavily on your shoulders. Be aware of changes in your cat's body, attitude or behavior, all of which can indicate illness and necessitate a trip to the veterinarian's, whether your cat likes it or not.

Q: My cat has a funny and somewhat embarrassing tendency to turn his back to me when I'm stroking him so that what I'm left looking at is his fanny. Is this a sign of affection, annoyance, or is my cat just plain quirky? -- C.O., via e-mail

A: It's not an insult, and you shouldn't be embarrassed. One of the most pleasurable ways of being petted (from a cat's point of view) is along the back, a scratch at the base of the tail and a caress up the tail. He's probably just turning his back to you so he can make sure you hit his favorite spots.

The base of the tail isn't the only place cats like to be petted. Although most cats would prefer to avoid a belly rub, they usually like to get a nice scratch at the base of the ears and along the jaw line. If you work on those magic spots, you might see a little more of your cat's pretty face, too.

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

In a pet's perfect world, there would be no holidays.

That's because animals thrive on routine. They'd be perfectly happy with the same loving people feeding them the same food, sharing the same daily walks or other physical activities, all in a territory that doesn't change much. Given their choice, most pets would happily do without a houseful of strangers on Thanksgiving or strangely dressed children coming to the door on Halloween.

But of all the celebrations we humans adore, the Fourth of July is the worst for pets because of fireworks. For some pets, this noisy holiday is simply terrifying. For others, it can turn deadly, as they are driven by fear to run away, and end up either killed by cars or lost and never found again. While accidents do happen, you can do a lot to prevent them and make the holiday easier on both you and your pets.

First, make sure your pets are secure. Check your fences and gates. Are there loose or missing boards or enticing gaps at the baseline that could be opened up with a little digging? Fix them all. An anxious pet might be more determined about escape than usual. Better still, bring all your pets in and consider confining them to a small area like a crate or carrier -- especially if you're not staying home to keep an eye on things. Always assume your pet may become lost and plan accordingly. Collars and tags are tickets home for lost pets; for insurance, add a microchip.

Some people worry about the safety of collars on their cats. But one look at all the healthy, well-fed strays in any shelter will tell you that the benefit of a collar and tag far outweighs any risks. Shelter workers will tell you they never see cats die from a snagged collar, but they are on hand when many strays breathe their last because they didn't have any way to be reunited with their owners and no one else wanted them.

It's a good idea to keep current, clear pictures of your pets on hand in case they do slip away -- you'll need them for fliers. If you lose your pet, put fliers everywhere you can, and place a lost ad in the paper right away. Don't waste precious time hoping your pet will wander home. Scan the neighborhood, watch "found" ads, and check the shelters and emergency clinics every other day in person.

While you're planning for the worst, figure out where you'd go for a veterinary emergency. Does your veterinary hospital staff for around-the-clock emergency care? Will they arrange for on-call care? Find out what your veterinarian offers before you need to know, and be sure that if you need to head to an emergency clinic after-hours that you know the phone number and how to get there.

Finally, if you've got a pet for whom the noise is terrifying, talk to your veterinarian before the holiday about tranquilizers you can administer at home to take the edge off the worst of the fear for your pet. For the pet who gets a little nervous but not unhinged by fireworks, check for a product called Rescue Remedy at your health-food store. Many dog fanciers swear by this human preparation to calm their pets as well.

While there's nothing that will dampen the enthusiastic way we celebrate the birth of our nation, preparing for the noise beforehand will also keep our pets free from the worst of the fear and danger this noisy day brings to animals.

PETS ON THE WEB

Summer is vacation time, and for many of us, that means taking our pets along. Finding lodging along the way has been made easier with the help of a pair of Web sites meant to make traveling with pets a pleasure. PetsWelcome.com offers listings of pet-friendly places, along with a nifty tool for planning your vacation: Enter your starting point and destination, and PetsWelcome.com will map out your route and provide you with pet-friendly lodging along the way.

TravelDog.com takes a different approach, charging a fee of $14.95 per year to access some of the same listings that can be found in books and elsewhere on the Web. The benefits of membership? Discounts from 10 percent to 40 percent for lodging and other pet-friendly goods and services that can pay for membership on just one trip. Both sites offer bulletin boards for pet lovers to share travel tips, lodging reviews, helpful articles, product reviews and more.

THE SCOOP

Many of the birds we keep as pets are of species most comfortable in places that we would find intolerable: the steamy, hot rainforests of Central and South America. The dry air of human homes is thought to be a contributing factor to feather-picking, a frustrating syndrome that can drive birds to pluck themselves bald.

You don't have to turn your house into a sauna to bring some moisture into your pet's life. Many birds enjoy being dampened by water from a spray bottle, or being offered the chance to take a bath in a shallow dish of clean water. Some parrot lovers take their birds right into the shower with them. How often should birds get a drenching? There are no firm guidelines, but daily would be fine with many birds.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: We've recently adopted a 2-year-old Lab-chow mix from our local shelter. There have been a couple of adjustment problems, but we're working them out. We do have one problem we need advice on: his name. When we got him, his name was "Coors." We don't want a dog named after a beer. How hard is it to change it? -- N.M., via e-mail

A: Easy. Just stop calling him "Coors," and start using the name you want to use. Your new pet will pick it up soon enough.

Your question is a timely one in my household. I went through at least a half-dozen names for my new puppy before he arrived, and another two or three after he joined us before settling on the name "Danny," which I used for the better part of the week. Problem was, "Danny" was too close to "Benny," the nickname of my oldest dog, the retriever Benjamin. The situation was confusing to everyone, so I had to find another name. This took another few days, during which I tried on three new names on the poor puppy before settling on "Chase." He's already responding to his name and, even more important, Benjamin isn't.

It isn't just puppies who can be so flexible on the subject of names. When Benjamin arrived in my home, he was nearly 2 years old and was named "Miles." I didn't think it fit him, so I changed it. Within a week, he was responding to Benjamin, Ben, Bennie and Big Doofus. I didn't hesitate to change his name because I have had the experience over the years of fostering, naming and finding new homes for many strays, all of whom likely had names before I found them, none of which I would have any way of knowing.

A final note: Your dog may not even realize his name is "Coors." Shelters know a name makes it easier for a pet to click with a prospective owner, which is why many humane groups make sure every pet gets a name before being put up for adoption, even if the animal came through the doors as an unnamed stray.

Q: I heard from a friend that there's a way to clean dog's teeth without anesthesia. It is much cheaper and easier on the dog. Are you aware of this, and is it a good idea? -- G.L., via e-mail

A: Some groomers will scrape a dog's teeth, and many people who show dogs do the same. Without anesthesia, the job isn't likely to be as thorough, and the pet is more likely to be injured because few animals will sit still for this procedure.

To protect your pet's teeth and save money, arrange for your dog to have a teeth-cleaning under anesthesia by your veterinarian, and then start brushing your pet's teeth on as close to a daily basis as possible, using a toothpaste made for pets. (Because pets don't spit and rinse, they need a toothpaste that can be swallowed and is flavored more to their liking.)

By brushing your pet's teeth regularly, you'll maintain the benefits of a veterinary visit, and increase the time between complete cleanings under anesthesia, thereby saving money without compromising your pet's health.

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

Summer is the time when a homeowner's thoughts naturally gravitate to gardening. The home centers are full of gardeners every weekend, and even drugstores and supermarkets sell a fair number of plants to people who just can't resist the urge to beautify the yard.

But what if your dog has a different idea of what makes a yard beautiful? What if your yard isn't the verdant oasis you've always dreamed of, but rather a crater-marred war zone created by a dog whose idea of a good time is digging? Short of finding a new home for the dog -- and you know I'd never recommend that -- can you have a nice yard? The answer is probably "yes," if you're willing to work and to compromise.

Like many behaviors people find troubling, digging is natural for dogs, with any number of triggers driving the activity. Among them:

-- Wanderlust. Some dogs, especially unneutered males, have a strong desire to dig their way out of the yard, especially when the breeze carries the enticing scent of a female in heat.

-- Prey drive. Subterranean wildlife is irresistible to some dogs, especially terriers or terrier mixes. These breeds were developed to dig vermin from their lairs, and they still do so with much enthusiasm.

-- Need for shelter. A well-dug den can keep a dog cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Although any breed or mix can show an interest in making a den, the behavior is more common in such breeds as huskies and malamutes.

-- Excess energy and boredom. This combination is either directly responsible or a contributing factor in most canine behavior problems.

The trick to having a nice yard and a happy dog is to do what you can to eliminate the triggers for digging, and then take your pet's needs into account when planning your landscaping.

Neutering can greatly reduce the desire to wander, so if your dog's a roaming Romeo, a trip to the veterinarian should be the first item on your list. If wildlife's a problem, contact your local agricultural extension for safe strategies on how to get the pests to give your yard a skip. And make sure your pet has the shelter he needs to stay comfortable no matter the weather. (Or better yet, make him an inside dog.)

Often the lack of exercise and sheer boredom are the biggest contributors to this behavior problem -- and any other. If you make it impossible for your dog to dig -- say by cooping him up in a concrete-floored kennel run -- he may switch to another unwanted behavior such as nonstop barking or self-mutilation.

Every dog needs an exercise program, with the emphasis on heart-thumping aerobic interludes such as a daily run or a game of fetch. If you keep your pet well-exercised, he'll be less likely to indulge in destructive behaviors.

Finally, design your yard for compromise. Make a less-visible part of the yard a dog-friendly free-dig zone, and limit your pet to that area when you can't be there to supervise. Provide safe chew toys to keep him occupied when alone, and discourage digging in off-limit areas by filling in holes and covering them with chicken wire and large rocks.

For the safety of the dedicated escape artist, you may need to bury chain-link fencing up to 18 inches or more below the surface, or run a hot wire along the base of the fence. (While I generally don't recommend such harsh cures for behavior problems, a shock or two while learning to leave the fence line alone is far preferable to a roaming dog getting lost or hit by a car.)

If you address the underlying issues that cause digging and then allow your dog the opportunity to do some of what comes naturally in an area that's acceptable to you both, you'll find that it's indeed possible to have a yard you can be proud to show off.

PETS ON THE WEB

Common wisdom in the humane community is that people value what they pay for, that a free pet will be more easily discarded at the first sign of difficulty. While it's true that people will often put more effort into keeping a pet they paid a lot to acquire, sometimes even the most expensive pets -- like parrots -- find themselves without homes. The reasons are many, but usually come down to a lack of education about parrot personalities, care requirements and longevity.

What happens to unwanted parrots? If they're lucky, they end up at the nonprofit Gabriel Foundation (www.thegabrielfoundation.org), a model program for avian rescue, placement and education. The foundation's Web site offers information on many avian topics, as well as showing off those birds who are looking for a new home of a more permanent variety.

THE SCOOP

Several readers checked in after the columns on pilling cats with another suggestion: pill "guns." Wrote one reader: "Pill guns are plastic and consist of a barrel that holds the pill, plus a plunger to pop it into the back of the cat's mouth. I've tried two different kinds, and my preference is for the BullsEye brand pill gun. I have to pill cats eight times per day, and thanks to my pill guns it is quick and easy!" Pill guns are widely available for around $5 from veterinarians as well as pet-supply stores, catalogs and Web sites. Check the ads in the back of cat magazines, too. For information on the BullsEye pill gun, go to www.butlersalesassociates.com/BullsEyePillGun/Professional%20Specialties.htm.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I have one cat who is very talkative, which can be quite bothersome. I know you recommend citronella collars for barking dogs, and I wonder: Would they be safe for cats as well? -- K.Q., via e-mail

A: The citronella collars react to the sharp sound of a bark, but ignore a whine or whimper, which leads me to believe they wouldn't work on a meow.

Some measure of vocalization is actually trained into cats by humans. If you hop up and accommodate your pet's every demand to be fed, then you've taught her that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, even in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn. If you think your cat's chatty behavior is something you've taught her -- as opposed to something she was born with -- then you can try some retraining.

Start by resolving not to give in to her demands. If you ignore her yowling for a while and then give in, you've taught her that all she needs to do to get her way is to make more noise, not less. Correct her with a shot of water from a squirt bottle and then go about your business. She'll get the point soon enough that her demanding gets her nowhere.

It may be, though, that your cat is naturally talkative. You can minimize some of her demanding behavior through retraining her, but you'll also have to do some retraining of yourself to learn to appreciate (or at least tolerate) her noise. Compromise is part of every relationship!

Q: You recently received a letter from someone wanting to know about inexpensive toys for dogs. Thrift stores are a great source for stuffed animals. Of course, you should remove eyes or any other small bits that the dogs may swallow. Would you please share the information? -- Anna Drummond, Pet Adoption League, Grass Valley, Calif., www.pal.nccn.net

A: Stuffed animals from a thrift store can indeed be a bargain toy for some kinds of dogs, but not others. The previous letter writer has a golden retriever who was destroying toys marketed for vigorous chewers; for this dog and others like him, stuffed toys are not recommended.

It comes down to knowing your dog. Some pets like to carry around toys; others like to destroy them. Some, quite sensibly, chew on the chew toys and carry around the stuffed ones. In my home, I've got a milk crate full of mostly stuffed toys, since my retrievers like to have something to carry around but are content to leave toys in one piece. I put all the toys through the washer and dryer a couple times a month, just to keep them from getting too gross.

While my current dogs are not destructive, I have had dogs in the past who seemed to pride themselves on their ability to dissect plush or vinyl toys within minutes. For these pets, I stuck with toys such as the Kong and other hard-rubber chewies.

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