Every year as spring approaches, shelters and rescue groups face a daunting challenge: Find homes for the cats before the kittens arrive.

That's because once kitten season starts, even the sweetest, handsomest and most well-mannered cats may run out of time before anyone recognizes them for the wonderful companions they are and adopt them.

The sole reason: Cats just aren't as cute as kittens. Being overlooked at the shelter is bad news for the cats, of course, but it's also unfortunate for many people who don't realize that an adult cat may, in many cases, be a better choice than a kitten. Sure, kittens are cute, but they also can be a bit of a trial as they grow up. They need extra time, extra training and extra tolerance for all those crazy things that kittens do.

An adult cat can slide quickly into your life. You know pretty well what you're getting with a grown cat -- activity level, sociability, health, etc. Given time in a loving environment, a grown cat forms just as tight a bond with his new people as any kitten can.

With adult cats, knowing a little of the animal's background is important, especially if your family has other pets, or children. (A cat who has never experienced them may have a more difficult time adjusting to a new family that includes either or both.) You can ask questions directly about the cat's background if you're adopting from the original owner. And most shelters or rescue groups also try to provide some basic background information, which they ask of the people giving up their pets.

What if the information isn't flattering to the cat? For example, what if he became available for adoption because of his failure to use a litter box? Give the cat the benefit of the doubt, if you have the time and patience to work on solving the problem. And remember, too, that you don't know the contributing factors. Maybe the litter box was never cleaned or was left in a spot that was convenient for the owner but disconcerting for the cat.

If at all possible, take each adult cat you're considering away from the caging area of the adoption center. Sit down with the animal in your lap, alone in a quiet place, and try to get a feel for the cat as an individual. Shelters are stressful places, so the cat may need a few quiet minutes to collect herself. A calm, confident and outgoing cat will respond pretty readily to your attention, relaxing in your lap, pushing for strokes and purring.

No matter how promising the initial meeting, remember that cats don't react well to change, so be prepared to give your new pet time to adjust to new surroundings once you take her home. Experts advise starting out your cat in a small, enclosed area -- a spare bathroom or small bedroom equipped with food and water, litter box, toys and a scratching post. A few days of quiet seclusion with frequent visits from you will relax your new pet and re-establish good litter-box habits.

If you're even considering bringing a pet into your life, please don't wait for kitten season -- take the plunge now. This is the time of year when adult cats in shelters get to shine a little extra, and there are enough of them around to give you a chance to bring home a pet you'll adore for years to come.

PETS ON THE WEB

Adult cats aren't the only shelter pets facing some spring deadlines -- adult rabbits are under pressure, too. That's because spring means Easter, a time when baby rabbits show up in pet stores, advertised as the perfect holiday gift for children. Later, many of these darling babies will end up in the shelter when their novelty wanes, adding to the overcrowding.

The House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org) has named February "Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month," with plenty of information on these pets -- which contrary to popular belief, are better suited for adults than to children -- at one of the best pet Web sites around.

THE SCOOP

My friend Peg has a houseful of pets and children, as well as a near-religious devotion to a single kind of household cleaner: bleach. Her faith is justified, for this cleaning staple can't be beat when it comes to keeping animal-related objects and surfaces clean. Cages, perches, litter boxes, nonporous toys and more can be cleaned with bleach -- diluted a half-cup to a gallon of water -- then rinsed with clear water and left to air dry. Be sure to use bleach and all household cleaners far away from pets (especially birds, who have very sensitive respiratory systems) and in a well-ventilated area.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: We adopted a 4-year-old female Boston terrier last August, and we're having a hard time getting her to eat. I've changed her dog-food brand three times, hoping to find something she would enjoy enough to want to eat. (I know I'm not supposed to change foods, but I'm desperate.)

If I put dry food in her bowl, she'll smell it and walk away. If I take it out of her bowl and put a few kibbles at a time on the floor she'll eat it all. Sometimes she'll eat late at night from a dish that has been there since morning, but other times she won't eat at all. She will eat treats and human food. Can you help? -- M.T., via e-mail

A: The first step is to make sure your dog has no health issues that may be contributing to this problem, so please take her to your veterinarian for a checkup. If all checks out, you must then start to retrain her to eat what she's given, when she's given it.

Rule No. 1: No treats and no human food. Absolutely, positively none. What you've done, you see, is teach your dog that if she turns up her nose at a bowl of perfectly fine dry food, you'll hand-feed it to her a kibble at a time. And if she turns up her nose at that, she'll get something even yummier. No wonder she's picky!

Rule No. 2: No free-feeding. She will now eat two meals a day, one in the morning and one at night. Absolutely no food in between. Water, of course, should be available at all times.

Rule No. 3: One half-hour for meals, no more, no less. Put her dish down in an area with few distractions, such as a laundry room with a baby gate across the opening. Set a timer for 30 minutes. Whatever she hasn't eaten at the end of that time goes back in the bag until her next scheduled meal.

It will not hurt her if she misses a couple of meals, or goes a couple of days without eating -- assuming, of course, that she is healthy to begin with. She won't miss many meals before her hunger will have her eating what you set in front of her, on a regular basis.

During this retraining phase I would stick to one brand of food. Once your dog starts eating regularly you can change brands, but introduce the change gradually. I'm convinced that the idea that a dog should be on a single brand for life was the creation of some clever chap in a pet-food company's advertising department.

Q: I have a 3-year-old cat who really took a liking to the tinsel on the Christmas tree this year. I imagine that it wouldn't be good for him, but I'm curious to what extent. And what is it that attracts them to devour it, not just play with it because it sparkles? -- B.W., via e-mail

A: You're lucky you didn't end up with a trip to the emergency veterinary clinic, or a dead cat. Tinsel, string and other such objects are both incredibly appealing to cats -- and incredibly dangerous.

The appeal is based on their hunting instincts. As any cat lover knows, cats love to follow motion, pouncing on toys as if they were prey. When string and similar substances are eaten, however, they can bind up in their intestines and often must be surgically removed.

Next year, leave the tinsel off your tree, or put such holiday decorations in an area off-limits to your cat. In the meantime, find a fishing-pole type toy for you to play with your cat. Any cat who's fascinated by tinsel will surely flip for supervised play with a toy of this type.

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. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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

Why get a pet if you don't want a pet in your life? I have often wondered this as I walk my dogs down streets lined with fences behind which lonely outdoor dogs bark as we go by.

I don't know what they look like, and can only guess their size by the deepness of their voices. But I know what the lives of these dogs are too often like. They are animals born to be part of a social structure, a pack or a family, yet this is denied them. They spend their lives on the outside, looking in.

The experts say many of these dogs will never really bond with owners who interact with them so little. When the puppy is no longer cute and the children grow tired of the care they promised to provide, when the destructiveness escalates or the neighbors complain about the noise, it's often just easier to dump the dog than solve the problem.

I have always had difficulty understanding why people want to keep dogs outside. If keeping a beautiful house and yard are of the utmost importance to you, then don't get a dog. If you know someone in your family can't abide a dog in the house, for whatever reason, then don't get a dog. If you can't let a dog be part of your family, then don't get a dog.

You don't get the benefits of companionship from a dog you see so little. You don't even get much in the way of protection from the pet who has no access to the house. And don't count on outdoor dogs as an early-warning system. These animals often become such indiscriminate barkers that you couldn't tell from their sound whether the dogs are barking at a prowler or at a toddler riding a tricycle down the street. Besides, people who keep outdoor dogs seem to become quite good at ignoring the noise they make, as any angry neighbor can vouch.

Outdoor dogs often become a problem to their owners. Bored and lonely, these animals develop any number of bad habits. They dig craters in the yard. They bark endlessly day and night. They become chewers of outdoor furniture, sprinkler heads and siding. And sometimes, without the socialization all dogs need, they become aggressive, ready to bite anyone who comes into their territory.

If you're considering getting a puppy or dog with the intent of keeping him exclusively outside, please reconsider -- for the animal's sake as well as your own and your neighbors'. A pristine home is nothing compared to the pleasures of living with an animal who's really bonded to you. If you don't think so, you shouldn't get a dog.

If you have a dog who has been banished because of behavior problems, find someone to help you turn the situation around. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist or trainer who can show you how to overcome the things that are driving you crazy, whether it's house-soiling, uncontrolled chewing or just the ill-mannered exuberance of a dog who doesn't know any better.

Allergies are a tad trickier, but an allergist may be able to help, along with attention to keeping the house and pets cleaner, using air cleaners and turning bedrooms into no-pet zones for allergy-free sleep.

It's worth the effort. Once you have a dog you can welcome into your home and your heart, you'll start to reap the benefits of a relationship that's finally being realized to its fullest potential. And that's good news for you both.

PETS ON THE WEB

Sally Blanchard has strong opinions about parrots -- and she doesn't seem to care who disagrees with her. In both her public appearances and in her magazine, The Companion Parrot Quarterly, she offers strongly worded advice on how these clever pets should be raised, handled and cared for.

With some pet publications caring more about offending advertisers than offering information that puts pets first, Blanchard's views are a breath of fresh air. Her magazine is worth subscribing to for anyone who has, or is thinking of getting a parrot. You can also find a wide variety of articles for free on Blanchard's Web site (www.companionparrot.com). Call it a public service from a person for whom healthy, happy parrots are a life's work.

THE SCOOP

A cat can purr, but a lion can't, nor can any of the other big felines. A tiger can rumble a friendly greeting, but only on the exhale. No big cat can get his motor running the way our household kitties can, purring constantly as effortlessly as breathing, both in and out.

To even things out, however, big cats possess the ability to roar. On the whole, the little cat got the better part of that deal, at least so far as human fans of the cat are concerned.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I applaud your recent column in which you advocated ID tags for all pets. My cat Violet was losing her collar every few days, each a nice one with a tag and bells. I decided I couldn't afford this endless supply of replacement collars, and I hypothesized that the tag was the reason for the losses.

As an experiment, I equipped a collar with a tag made from a Brother P-touch label-maker. I wrote her name, our street address and phone number, then peeled off the backing, slipped the strip through the D-ring on the collar and pressed the two sides together. The combination has a jaunty look, and many months later neither the collar nor the label have disappeared. Would you pass this tip along? –- C.S., via e-mail

A: Your ingenuity reminds me of another suggestion for putting identification on cats, which a friend gave to me many years ago. She would order cloth labels, the kind you put in children's clothing, with her name and phone number. Then, she would get elastic from the fabric store, and cut it into strips for a snug, but not tight, fit around her cats' necks.

She'd put the ends together, add the cloth tag and slip the new collars on her cats. The collars are easy to make up several at a time, and cheap enough to replace frequently if lost. Because they are made of elastic, they'll slip off if a cat gets hung up on something.

Whatever method you choose, do be sure to get an ID on your pet. Even better, add a microchip for permanent ID that cannot be removed or slipped off.

Sometimes people think they don't need ID for their cats because the animals never roam. Indoor cats need tags just as much, maybe even more. Should they slip outside they're going to have an even more difficult finding their way home, because they'll be afraid and in unfamiliar surroundings.

ID is a cheap ticket home, for all pets. Even my parrot, who never goes outside, is equipped with a microchip ID, just in case.

Q: We just got a new puppy for Christmas, and I wasn't part of the decision. If I had been, I would have disagreed because I know how much attention puppies need, having raised one before. I have a toddler and giving the puppy attention is not going to be easy. I feel a little resentful leaving it in a crate pretty much the entire day. But I am not sure what else to do, because I have other things to attend to than trying to take care of a puppy. Please try to help me not feel resentful. -- P.H., via e-mail

A: This is a sad situation all around, and one that's almost certain to end sadly for you and badly for the puppy.

If you cannot get the family member who wanted the puppy to assume responsibility for the animal's care, then I recommend that you start looking for another home for the young dog. If you don't, I can almost guarantee you'll be finding a home for the animal later, when he is unsocialized, untrained and no longer cute.

Half-grown dogs with behavior problems are prime candidates for euthanasia at the shelters. It's not their fault they are not wanted, but still ... they are not wanted. Please do what's right for this youngster and remove him from a bad situation now, while he's cute enough to attract interest, and before you've allowed him to develop bad habits that will be a challenge to change.

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. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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

In my mail recently came a six-fingered glove, made of absorbent material and designed to clean pet paws easily and quickly.

The product, Spotless Paw, is cleverly designed -- with the six fingers it fits over either hand, backward and forward -- and worked pretty well, to a point. At about halfway through the 16 filthy paws at my home, the mitt was outmatched. (It's a nifty product for those with fewer or cleaner dogs than I have, though: $19.95 from pet retailers or www.spotlesspaw.com.)

With seven permanent pets and an ever-changing number of guests and fosters, I'm constantly looking for easier ways to keep my house looking and smelling clean. Products come and go, but the struggle continues. Over the years, I've learned the hard way how to keep pet mess and smell to a minimum.

Here are the basics:

-- Start with surfaces that are easy to keep clean. When choosing flooring, go for tile or other durable, stain-proof flooring. Many multipet families swear by laminate flooring, which looks like hardwood but stands up better to canine nails.

What you can't keep clean, keep covered with something washable. Use small rugs to cover high-traffic areas of your wall-to-wall carpet, and furniture throws to protect your upholstery. (Doctors Foster and Smith has a good selection of furniture throws that can take years of weekly washings -- on this I speak from experience -- and keep looking nice. The company is on the Web at www.drsfostersmith.com, or request a free catalog at 1-800-381-7179.)

-- Catch the dirt you can before it spreads throughout your home. Use floor mats liberally, both outside your doors and just inside, to catch as much muck as you can from those dirty paws. You should also place mats near cat boxes, to help catch any litter that's tracked out. Don't forget to put even more mats under pet food and water dishes. Forget those cutesy-pie pet placemats -– go for something sturdy, and of decent size.

-- Keep pets well-groomed. Brush and comb your pets regularly, and don't delay regular bathing. Your pets will smell better, and the hair you catch in the grooming process won't end up floating around your home.

-- Search and destroy past messes. Sometimes you can see them and not smell them; other times you can smell them and not see them. You have to clean them all, so as not to invite repeat business. If a mess has soaked through, you must pull up the carpet and clean or replace the padding

below.

-- Get on new messes promptly. Messes are easier to clean when they're fresh, and are less likely to leave a permanent stain or attract your pet to revisit the area.

For cleaning, use products designed for pet messes. Available from any pet-supply retailer, these products have enzymes that break down organic wastes and neutralize odors. Pass on ammonia-based cleaners, which smell like urine to pets and so invite repeat business.

The truth is, keeping a home clean when pets are around isn't that difficult, but it does require good planning, the right products and constant effort. If you prevent the mess and you never let a mess sit for too long, your house will always be a pleasant place for you and your pets.

PETS ON THE WEB

If you're looking for someone who has too much time on his hands, check out the Cat Town Web site (www.spatch.net/cattown). The creator has taken some silly images of cats in hats and collars -- lifted from the Japanese site that sells the products -- and written stories to go with them. Strange? Sure, but I found myself smiling with every click in Cat Town, slightly relieved that I wasn't wasting as much time reading the site as the creator spent pulling it together. Besides, the cats are darn cute.

THE SCOOP

A few months ago I wrote about the Kitty Tease, a cat toy of the "fishing pole" variety that I found to be of exceptional quality and value, made by a small family business in Tennessee. (It's so small that the owner's young son is in charge of handling the replacement-string orders.) Since that column came out, hardly a week goes by without someone asking me to repeat the information.

The Kitty Tease is available for $15 including shipping and handling (additional toys to the same address are $10 each), from the Galkie Company's Web site (www.kittytease.com), by phone (423-869-8138) or by mail (P.O. Box 20, Harrogate, TN 37752). Your cat will love it!

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Recently I lost my beloved Ariel, a 5-year-old shih tzu, and I am so grief-stricken and lonesome. I know I want another shih tzu, but since I work all day, I am not sure if I can manage a puppy. I am looking into shih tzu rescues and older dog adoptions, but it seems older shih tzus are scarce. If I go the puppy route, do you have any suggestions on what to do when I'm at work? -- V.G., via e-mail

A: Puppies need to eat and go out at midday. If you can't come home for lunch for a few weeks, arrange for a neighbor, friend or family member to drop by in your place. A pet-sitting service will be happy to handle this duty, as well.

In your situation, though, I really think you're on the right track looking for an older dog. As you discovered, the number of small, purebred puppies in rescue isn't that many. But if you expand your search to include mixes and older dogs, you'll likely come up with a wonderful companion. Try visiting the Petfinder Web site (www.petfinder.org) to see what's available in your region.

If you absolutely must have a young, purebred shih tzu, here's a little-known secret: Reputable breeders sometimes have young adult dogs they'd like to place in permanent pet homes.

It's not easy to pick a top show dog from a litter of promising puppies, which is why breeders often "grow out" their top prospects, knowing they won't keep them all. The pups who don't realize their potential need good homes, as do retired show champions who don't fit into a breeding program. While these dogs are not "free to a good home," they generally can be had for the price of a well-bred pet-quality puppy, sometimes less.

How to find these dogs? Go to dog shows and talk to the exhibitors, collecting names of reputable breeders. Follow up with phone calls, explaining the wonderful home you have to offer, and that you're looking for an older dog. Be patient, and keep working on it.

Two of my four dogs came to me through this route. They were dogs who didn't make the cut for competition, and who ended up with the cushiest job of all -- being a pampered pet. They were young, healthy, well-socialized and had some basic training, and they've been the most wonderful companions ever since.

Whichever route you take, please make sure you're ready for a new dog. You've lost a darling dog in Ariel, and if you rush into getting a new companion, you may find yourself feeling guilty, or holding the new dog up to unfair comparisons. Take your time!

Q: I have two problems with my African gray parrot. First, he's a feather-picker, and I can't get him to stop. Second, he won't eat anything but sunflower seeds. Any suggestions? -- W.K., via e-mail

A: These two problems may be related, since good nutrition is essential to the health of all pets, and an all-seed diet is bad news for parrots. You need to find a veterinarian with experience in treating birds, and get your bird a complete physical. You may need a review of proper care for your pet. An experienced avian veterinarian will be able to offer assistance in getting your bird onto a healthy diet and may be able to help with the feather-picking. (No guarantees, sadly, because once this habit is well-established it can be difficult to eliminate.)

One source for a knowledgeable bird doctor is the Web site of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (www.aav.org). Be sure to search by area codes (yours and adjacent ones) or by state, since the search engine isn't sophisticated enough to provide anything more than an exact match for smaller search areas.

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. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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