Have you thought about adopting a cat this year? Whether you are looking for your first cat, a companion cat to one you already love or an addition to a busy, active household, now's a great time to bring home a shelter cat.

If you think of shelters as gloom-and-doom places, you might be surprised at the changes in many facilities. For cats, especially, the days of sterile, stacked steel cages are giving way to colony cat rooms, where the animals can relax and show off their loving personalities.

Still, I know going to a shelter can be over- whelming, since you can't bring them all home. But if you think about what you're looking for in a cat, go in with a plan, and listen to your heart and your head, I bet you'll find the adoption option is easier and more rewarding than you think.

There are advantages to adopting from a shelter, and saving money is one of them. Adult pets are usually spayed or neutered before they're made available for adoption, and that's real savings. The cats you see usually also have been vet-checked, vaccinated and, in some shelters, evaluated for temperament. In many shelters you'll find staff members and volunteers who are familiar with each cat's personality and can tell you which ones are lap- sitters, which are playful, which ones like kids and dogs, and which ones would rather live without them.

Another plus is the variety of cats you can find: long-haired, short-haired, tabby, calico and sometimes even pedigreed cats, especially popular breeds such as Siamese and Persian.

Yes, that's right: If you've always dreamed of having a chatty Siamese, you can find one in a shelter, especially if you broaden your search by using www.petfinder.com.

Want more reasons to adopt from a shelter?

Many shelter cats are already familiar with home life because that's where they came from, often ending up in a shelter through no fault of their own – especially in this economy.

Many are cool around kids or dogs, and they know the litter box routine. I'm no fan of declawing, but if you believe you must have a cat who is declawed, there's a good chance you can find one at a shelter.

Before you go, get a picture in your head about what you want in a cat. Lap-sitter or lively? Cool with kids and dogs? Chatty or quiet? Some shelters start with adoption counseling first, then introduce you to the cats that are the best matches.

Other shelters give you a chance to look the cats over and visit with them first, then help you choose the cat that's right for you.

And if your shelter doesn't have adoption counseling? Look beyond the cute and think of the home you're providing.

If your home is a three-ring circus with boisterous children and lots of other animals, you'll want to consider those bold, friendly cats who seem to be handling the shelter environment well.

If you have a quiet home, look to the shy cats who may just need time to relax and look around in a new home. That cat can also be a good choice if you enjoy the feline presence but would prefer not to have one that is "in your face" all the time.

Most important, look past appearance and "see" with your heart what's really there. Behind a plain-vanilla exterior of a cat that has been overlooked by so many, you may discover a sweet pet with the purr-fect personality. Those cats are the keepers, no matter what they look like.

Which leads me to the best reason of all for adopting a cat from a shelter: that warm, fuzzy, tingly glow you get from giving a home to a cat in need and hearing it purr as it settles into its new digs – after you get your veterinarian to check him over, of course!

Video bonus: Training expert Mikkel Becker shows how to teach your dog that running away is not acceptable (www.vetstreet.com/ train/how-to-keep-your-dog-from-running-away).

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Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Email them at petconnection@gmail.com or visit www.petconnection.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/spadafori.

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