Zari (Staff photo - Elaine Larsen)

There she was.

The one.

Sure, I had come dead-set on a Calico, one with "bunny soft fur" as my husband and I had been considering.

But how could I resist those bright, intelligent eyes peering out at me from her cat bed. That sleek, lithe form; that short, patterned coat that was as exotic as it was soft.

The aforementioned Calico, "Tammy Faye" who I met in one of the Peninsula Humane Society's "cat meeting rooms" was, for sure, a sweetie. But I was concerned about her long, shedding hair and obviously timid nature.

Just two summers ago, we had lost our beloved "Kittie," a spunky tabby cat who quickly worked her way into our hearts and household, coming to our home after living on the streets in Half Moon Bay.

Story told, she'd become with kitten young, yet managed to eke out a living by mooching off the kind-hearted merchants along Main Street.

When she came to us, Kittie was bold, brash and intelligent — often leaping from roof to roof in our apartment complex, wrestling rodents and holding her own with the neighborhood cats.

And yet there was a domesticity about her, a gentleness — like the town scrapper who had finally found her comfort zone.

At the risk of anthropomorphizing, she seemed almost grateful to have the steady assurance of a warm bed, a full food bowl and the companionship of her "humans."

She was a fixture at the sliding glass window and regularly waited at the door for our daily homecoming, tagging along to the laundry room like a faithful canine so much so we called her our "dog cat."

Her only remnant of life in the wild was her penchant for wanting to drink out of the bathroom faucet (recalling drainpipes?) despite the more civilized cat drinking fountain from the pet store.

And so, when the Peninsula Humane Society counselor learned of my previous pet experience — she brought me to visit "Zahara," a 13-month Bengal/tabby mix who came into the shelter nine months ago. Turns out Dawn had "fostered" Zahara who came into the shelter with two kittens in tow.

Actually, that's not quite right.

An animal control officer had brought the two kittens into the shelter and later returned to the apartment complex for more investigation.

Fortunately for her, the officer found and returned with those kittens' mother. The young Bengal/tabby had continued to nurse her young while foraging for food for herself.

Her personality and spunk immediately impressed the PHS staff.

"This is a perfect cat. I'd keep her myself if I could, but I just can't," Dawn Beavis, the PHS counselor, told me. The Bengal/tabby she named "Zahara" was her 27th rescued cat. As a foster, Zahara had been living in the upper story of Beavis' home with several other rescued kittens including her own two offspring who had since been promised out for adoption; Dawn's own pet cats lived downstairs.

Zahara quickly adapted to home life, figuring out the litter box, cuddling with her foster parents and sleeping between them on their bed at night. She quickly earned the shelter's "Ph.D." in purring. She cleared the PHS vets' examination and had been wormed, micro-chipped and spayed just days before I met her.

"I actually think she'll enjoy having her own home without those pesky kittens," said Beavis, who while obviously bonded with Zahara was more than giddy at the prospect her newest foster would find a permanent home.

Well, I admit it. I was hooked. Who could resist this little 8-pound charmer. This delicate-footed feline who despite being abandoned braved the world and took care of her babies even though just a baby herself.

While boasting some of the intricate Bengal body markings, Zahara has the unmistakable stripped face markings of a tabby and the love of being tickled under the chin.

The minute I said "yes, I'll take her," it was, at the risk of sounding melodramatic, transforming.

I've always believed in the importance of the Peninsula Humane Society's mission of rescuing our county's scores of unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs. Some years ago, I even won a media award for the publicity our newspaper, the Pacifica Tribune, has given PHS.

But it was not until I experienced the adoption experience personally that I truly "got it."

The Peninsula Humane Society on Airport Boulevard in San Mateo is a cheerful, optimistic place despite the enormity of its task: finding loving homes for San Mateo County's animal citizens.

Staff and volunteers bring their canine and feline companions to work, a testament to the pet-friendly atmosphere of the workplace.

Families are busy greeting new puppy and kitty companions. All the animals up for adoption are obviously living in clean, comfortable quarters.

There is an unmistakable aura of hope, good will and charity.

While Dawn was putting together my adoption paperwork and preparing Zari for our take-home journey she paused and made a public announcement over the intercom: "Zahara is going home to a new, loving home in Pacifica," she said — words that brought tears to my eyes.

Not easily sentimental I admit I was moved. It felt like I was adopting an unwanted child from a third-world country and had the support and love of the entire PHS staff and visitors.

The minute she stepped out of her pet carrier into our house, Zahara — who I nicknamed "Zari" — made it clear that this was "her home." It took less than an hour of poking her curious nose into every conceivable place before she found all of her favorite spots — the furry quilt on the bed, the afternoon sun-warmed spot near the sliding glass door, the soft cat bed I had bought for her.

Zari loves to dash around the house, batting cat toy balls like a soccer player and "churruping" her kitty hellos.

According to Barron's "Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds," the Bengal breed originated as a human-made hybrid of the Asian leopard cat and the domestic cat.

The leopard cat is a cat-sized inhabitant of southern Asia and is thought to be one of the closest of the modern undomesticated cat species to the ancient common ancestor of the cat family.

The Bengal, according to Barron's, began its journey toward becoming a recognized breed in 1963 when breeder Jean Mill of Covina, Calif. bought a female leopard cat from a pet store. (At the time, leopard cats could be purchased in the United States although today it's illegal to sell them.)

Says Barron: "She wasn't trying to create a new breed of cat — she just wanted a unique pet." One day, she thought her new pet looked lonely so she put a male domestic cat in the cat's cage to keep her company. A litter was produced and the rest is history.

Barron's "Rating of Characteristics" of the Bengal include high ratings for activity level, playful, need for attention, affection toward its owner, vocality and intelligence."

"Fanciers describe Bengals as playful, gregarious and energetic cats who have a generous dose of feline curiosity and want to be involved with their owners," says Barrons.

That cat encyclopedia seems to be spot on.

Bengals are even said to like water — a fact confirmed by several "YouTube videos" from Bengal owners. I haven't yet filled up our bathtub and tossed in a cat toy to test the theory. Perhaps the tabby side of Zari who hates water will take over. Maybe not. We'll see.

Once just an outside supporter of the Peninsula Humane Society, I am now an inside believer in the power of animal adoption.

So is Zari.

The fee for cat adoption at PH Society is just $70. The cost includes veterinarian screening, vaccinations, leukemia test, microchip, spay or neuter, vet exam, de-worming, license and behavioral hotline help — all services which could easily add up to $261-$318 or more.

The Peninsula Humane Society is located at 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo. Hours are 11 a .m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information visit www.peninsulahumanesociety.org