I don’t understand how Meio’s owner could have abandoned him. He’s handsome, loving and a great communicator, but he needs to be the only cat in his new forever home.

Zeus, one of our featured animals, is listed as a Catahoula leopard dog mix, named after Catahoula Parrish in Louisiana.

Originally called the Catahoula cur, the name was changed when the breed became Louisiana’s state dog in 1979.

Catahoulas are working dogs and were bred to develop their instincts to herd, track and hunt. While they were bred to be even-tempered, their keen intelligence and sense of duty leads them to be fairly easy to train and natural protectors of their families, particularly children.

They insist on being a vital member of the family and do not tolerate being isolated. If you adopt a Catahoula, plan on spending a lot of time together.

The breed has a wide range of physical characteristics, including size, coat and color. As with most breeds, males may grow larger than females, with weight ranging from 40 to more than 100 pounds.

Their coats are typically low-maintenance and most often slick, with short hair lying close to the body. They can also have coarse coats, with slightly longer hair and “feathers” on the backs of their legs. While less common, some members of the breed have double, wooly coats, giving them a shaggy appearance.

A common characteristic of the Catahoula leopard dog is a result of the merle gene, which results in distinctive, mottled patterns in a variety of colors, including brown, tan, black and shades of gray. Many will have a mix of two or three colors with white on their chests and feet. Others will be predominantly white with a patchwork pattern of solid and merle patches of various colors.

Their eyes may be solid or a mixture of blue, brown, green, gray and gold. They often have the appearance of “cracked glass” or “marbled glass.”

Zeus is young, smart and wants to please. Like many Catahoulas, he might be developed into a successful agility dog. Just make sure he gets plenty of exercise, and Zeus could be your family’s perfect pet.

— To adopt a dog or cat, please come to the shelter at 1701 U.S. 72 (behind Limestone Veterinary Clinic), visit our Facebook page or call us at 256-771-7889. Email your questions or story ideas to me at PetsAndPeople@charter.net and I’ll check with the experts (veterinarians, animal behaviorists, etc.) and get back to you in a future column.