INPUT ARTICLE: Article: For everyday dirt, grime, and food residue, wet a sponge or soft cloth. Squeeze out a small circle of dish soap onto the sponge, and rub the soap into the sponge to get a soapy lather. Wipe down your entire countertop with the sponge. Rinse the soap off the counters with a damp sponge. Once the counters are clean, completely dry the surface. This helps prevent the formation of hard water marks and streaks. It also makes your countertops look slightly glossy. This routine cleaning method is the best way to maintain your countertops. If you take care of liquid spills as soon as they happen, you should be able to prevent the majority of hard water marks and stains. Take care of these spills by using soapy water, rinsing, and drying the spot. Many all-purpose kitchen cleaners contain ammonia. Be sure to check the label to ensure the cleaner contains this material. Spray the countertops down with the cleaner, rinse with a wet rag, and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use window or glass cleaners on the countertops. While many of these cleaners contain ammonia, they'll leave streaks on your Corian. You can explore plant-based cleaning options if you prefer avoiding chemical cleaners. Many natural cleaning lines carry products specifically made to clean granite, quartz, and Corian countertops. It's a good idea to disinfect your kitchen countertops at least once, and possibly twice, per week. This helps prevent the spread of bacteria. Make a diluted mixture of bleach and water by mixing one tablespoon (14.78 mL) of bleach with one gallon (3.78 L) of water. Wet a cloth with the solution and rub it over the entire surface by using small circular motions. Be sure to protect your eyes and skin from bleach while cleaning. Wear a pair of rubber gloves while you perform your disinfecting. If you prefer to avoid bleach, use natural disinfectant sprays and wipes instead. Give the solution time to do the work of disinfecting. For maximum disinfecting, it's best to let the solution simply air dry on the countertops. If you prefer, you can wait a few minutes and then use a soft cloth to dry the countertops. Corian countertops come with matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes. While no Corian countertop will give off the same shiny look as granite, you can buff and enhance the look of countertops with glossy finishes. Simply spray on the polish and buff with a dry, soft cloth.

SUMMARY: Use dish soap and water to wipe down the countertop. Dry the countertops with a soft cloth. Clean up spills immediately after they occur. Use an ammonia-based spray cleaner for stubborn dirt. Use a bleach-based solution to disinfect the counter. Allow the disinfectant solution to sit for at least two minutes or air dry. Polish glossy Corian countertops using a countertop polish.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Your local animal shelter probably has many excellent cats who are in need of a good home, and most animal societies will suggest this as the first place to start looking for a cat. Shelters usually have a large variety of cats to choose from, so they are a good option if you can't decide beforehand which kind you want. Animal shelters usually charge a small adoption fee as well as a fee to cover the cost of spaying/neutering and vaccinations. You can also adopt an older cat from a shelter, if you want. That way you will already know something about its temperamentfor example, if it is ready to live with children, how playful it is, if it is house trained, etc. Many animal shelters allow you to preview available cats online ahead of time. Always see the cat in person before you decide to take it home, however. Much like animal shelters, cat rescue groups have many felines ready to find good homes. These groups place the cats in foster homes until permanent owners (such as you) can be found. You can look online to see if such a group is available in your area. Cat rescue groups may charge a small adoption fee as well as a fee to cover the cost of spaying/neutering and vaccinations. Some pet stores may sell kittens. Many, however, work with animal shelters to help rescued cats find new homes. Some pet stores hold regular adoption fairs, connecting cats with potential owners. These are also opportunities to find out more about caring for cats, finding a good vet, etc. In addition to the cost of the cat, pet stores may charge fees for spaying/neutering and vaccinations. If you want to buy a purebred cat or kitten from a store, make sure that it is not from a "kitten mill" that practices irresponsible breeding. Make sure that you can find out who the cat's breeder is and how the cat was cared for. Many pet stores may not sell purebred cats at all because cat associations prefer breeders to sell their felines directly. Pet stores focus on selling, so they may or may not not give you good information about caring for the the cat long-term. If you are certain that you want a particular breed of cat, your best choice is a good breeder. Do research on cat breeders in your area ahead of time. Your local animal association should have a list of reputable breeders. Be prepared to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a purebred cat. Reputable breeders will be able to supply you with copies of pedigree papers and veterinarian records. These will show that the cat has been fully vaccinated and treated for worms and fleas. Ask when the kitten was born, how old its mother is, and how many litters she has had. Visit the place where the kitten was born, and make sure it is clean and safe, free from odors, and that there is room for the kittens to play and get exercise. Breeders may ask you to spay/neuter the cat as a condition of ownership. Use good judgment: if any breeder does not want to share information with you, or if you see signs that the breeder is not taking good care of the cats, seek another one. It is often relatively easy to find offers of "free kittens" or "kittens free to a good home" online, on community bulletin boards, advertised in newspapers, etc. These kittens may not have been to a vet, so even if one is initially "free," you will still be paying for it if you want to take good care of the cat. If you take a free kitten home, have a vet inspect it as soon as possible to make sure it is good health, has any vaccinations it needs, and is ready to be spayed or neutered. Cats purchased from breeders should be in excellent health. Most cats offered for adoption at animal shelters or other locations are also in very good health. If you are willing to take care of an animal with a health problem, animal shelters will help you understand its needs. In all cases, you should see the cat before you agree to buy it and bring it home. Gently feel the cat's ribs. Healthy cats will have some fat covering them. The kitten's fur should be smooth and shiny, and its eyes and ears should be clean, with no signs of discharge. Notice how the cat reacts to people; it should not hiss or back away from people. Good breeders will make sure that their kittens have good temperaments and are well-socialized. Animal shelters should be able to give you tips on a particular cat's behavior. Before letting you take a cat home, good breeders or animal shelters will want to make sure that you are prepared to take care of it. Questions they might ask you include: Do you have other animals? If so, how will they react to a new kitten? How often will the kitten be left on its own, and for how long? What kind of space will the animal have access to? How will it be protected from traffic, other animals, getting lost, etc.? Who will be the kitten's vet? What are your plans if the kitten does not adjust to your home? (Good breeders, many pet stores, and some shelters will offer to take back a kitten within a certain time frame if things do not work out.)

SUMMARY:
Consider getting a cat from an animal shelter. Look for cats available from rescue groups. Research local pet stores. Choose a reputable breeder if you want a purebred cat. Be wary of free kittens. Inspect a kitten carefully before you buy it. Expect questions from an animal shelter or breeder.