Adult cats can be difficult to find new homes for. But if you're patient and persistent with the cat you're fostering, you can find people with open hearts to match their open homes. Here are some tips:

Do everything you can to make the animal more adoptable. The pet has a better chance for adoption if her vaccinations are current, she uses her litter box reliably, and she's altered.

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. But the person who gets such a pet without warning is likely to bring her back, take her to a shelter or give her away -- maybe to a horrible situation.

Spread the news. Distribute fliers and place ads in newspapers and on Internet sites. Ask rescue groups to spread the word on your foster pet as well. Talk to everyone about the pet you're placing.

Ask prospective adopters whether they've had pets before and what happened to them. The person who has had a lot of pets that have disappeared, died young or were given away is probably not your best choice. Ask for a veterinary reference, too.

Above all, don't give up! It may take weeks to find the right home for a pet, but it's always worth the time it may take to get it right.

The goal here is not to "get rid of" an animal, but to find a loving, caring and, most of all, permanent home for a pet who needs one. They are out there. And if you keep looking, you'll likely find the home that's just right for the cat you're trying to help.