One of these six spectacular cats may be your next pet

Now that we have all had our fill of grilled burgers and fireworks, let's look at some unsung Americans--cats. Did you know that there are nearly 100 million cats living in the United States? I'm not sure who counted all of them, but that's a lot of cats. Enough to sway an election were they given the right to vote (which, of course, they should be). Unfortunately, many of those cats don't have a place to call home. Here are six cats, all in the greater Kanas City area, who would love it if you might consider giving them a bed, a litter box, and a bowl full of kibble.

Raki and Milan

Raki and one of his siblings, Milan.Photo byThe Animal Rescue Alliance

First up is Raki and Milan, two sweet kittens from The Animal Rescue Alliance. About a month ago, their mom, Bia was featured here. Bia is still available if you want to keep the family together. Ideally, you could at least keep Raki and Milan together. The Animal Rescue Alliance highly recommends adopting kittens in pairs--these two guys have grown up together and would love to stay together.

There is also a sister in the group, Hayley, and she'd love to go along for the ride too. Hayley was also featured here just a couple of weeks ago:

Hayley wants to come too.Photo byThe Animal Rescue Alliance

They're about four months old now and are growing bigger by the day, so act fast if you want to soak in as much of that kitten cuteness as possible. You can learn more about Raki here and Milan here.

Creamsicle

Creamsicle coming out to greet her guests.Photo byMeowy Matchmakers

Next up is Creamsicle, a white and orange sweetheart who will make every day a summertime treat. She's a dainty girl who is as pretty as can be with her beautiful coat and trademark upturned ear.

Creamsicle is good with other cats and dogs as long as they're introduced slowly. She will make a fantastic edition to your home and will be thrilled to have a roof over her head and a lap to nap on. You can learn more about Creamsicle here.

Petunia

Petunia: "No Paparazzi!"Photo byCats Pawjamas

Petunia is such a delicate name, but this kitten is anything but delicate. She's an affectionate girl, but she's got a lot of sass too, typical of her fellow calicos. She loves being the center of attention and is, like most kittens, recommended for people who have the time to attend to tend to her needs and to help her expend all that busting-at-the-seems energy. Adopting two kittens would lighten your playtime load. Like Milan and Raki, above, it's natural for kittens to have other kitten pals to help them "release the Kraken" (or "release the kitten"). Cats Pawjamas has plenty of other young cats if you want to go that route. You can learn more about Petunia here.

Harriet

Come on out little HarrietPhoto byGreat Plains SPCA

Ever get such a bad haircut, you just want to hide away until it grows back? That's how Harriet feels after Great Plains SPCA had to give her a shave.

Before she came to Great Plains, Harriet lived out in the wild, her coat matted beyond repair. Now it is growing back, and one day it will return to its previous glory. For the moment though, she urges us to remember that beauty is only skin deep and that she has the loveliest of souls.

Petunia is still shy and scared because of the move to the shelter and her unfortunate trip to the barber shop, but once this girl gets comfortable in a new home, she'll shine. You can learn more about Harriet here.

Daisy

Daisy wants to play.Photo byThe Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter

Last but not least is Daisy, from the Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter. Daisy was brought in with her friend, Lars, to the shelter by a "feral feeder," which sounds like something you wouldn't want to run into in the middle of the night. Daisy is a shy girl but is getting more used to being around people each day. She's learning to enjoy pets and treats. Treats are the ticket to Daisy's heart.

Daisy would be best in a quiet, patient home and ideally her new family would also adopt Lars, her BFF from the north side. A familiar face would go a long way in helping her adapt to her new environment. You can learn more about Daisy, and Lars too, by filling out FOPAS' pre-adoption application here. There's no obligation in doing so.

That's all for this week. Want to look at more cats? Check out my profile here. Many of the cats featured on past posts are still available!