Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Let a cat adopt you today

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, June 5, 2003 | 8:11 a.m.

According to the nation's cat counters, there are tens of millions of homeless cats roaming our streets.

To ease the problem, the month of June has been designated by the ASPCA as adopt-a-shelter-cat month. The ASPCA is working on the project in conjunction with Fresh Step cat litter and Pet.Finder.com.

We are fortunate to have several enthusiastic and conscientious animal welfare groups operating in Clark County, so there is a wide choice to be had in adopting a cat.

A cat can steal your heart. It happened to me when I found Pug, a black Persian mix.

A friend knew I was interested in adopting a cat. She introduced me to a lady whose avocation was rescuing stray cats. It was arranged for me to interview several feline persons temporarily housed with a local vet.

With cat carrier in hand, I stopped by the vet's to meet some cats. Of the four I saw, one long-haired, black-and-white female held the most appeal, although the choice was difficult.

The cat lady suggested I go into another room and think about my choice. I sat the carrier on the floor and exited. When we returned the black male cat was comfortably ensconced in the cat carrier.

How could I not accept him? With his confident air and pushed-in face, he reminded me of a banged-up boxer, so he became Pug.

This new member of my family had a somewhat traumatic background. He had been found locked in a Dumpster, was rescued and taken to the vet. Pug and I have lived together for eight good years. We understand each other. I have learned that cats will come when you call if they don't have something better to do.

Author Paul Moore explains: "Cats are mysterious beings. You never know if they love you or if they condescend to occupy your house. This mystery is what makes them so attractive."

Many cats, including Pug, do a lot of talking. They aren't a bit shy about letting their keepers know their needs. They reward with contented purrs that let you know all is right with their world.

Cats and dogs top the list of favorite pets, with cats numbering about 75 million across the land. They have become favorites because they ask for little in terms of care -- a litter box, food, water, a toy or two.

For seniors living alone, a cat can be the ideal companion. They can melt hearts with a gentle tap of the paw.

When adopting a cat, we are not doing the animal a favor; we are blessing ourselves with a caring companion.

Now is a good time to contact local animal shelters or caregivers and choose a cat, or, as in my case, have one choose you.

Every life should have nine cats.

How could it be that our intelligence regarding Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction could have been so misleading? With Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld now speculating the weapons were destroyed on the eve of fighting, what, or whom, can we believe?

Let's hope the experts led by Gen. Keith Dayton and the Iraq Survey Group will uncover more substantive evidence of such weapons. The credibility of the United States and President Bush are at stake.