American Humane has christened June Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. But any month is the ideal one for giving a home to a stray or unwanted kitty.

Independent cat rescuers are a breed apart: As feral cat colonies continue to grow, and a worsening economy and spiking foreclosures mean more abandoned animals, they are a fragile but crucial safety net.

The hardest cats to adopt are those with feline AIDS and/or leukemia. These cats can live full, long, healthy lives with the right care and precautions. Unfortunately, there is often a lot of misinformation.

For more information, visit www.americanhumane.org.