Dusty the Klepto Kitty facts for kids

Dusty the Klepto Kitty was a famous Siamese cat. He became well-known for his unusual habit of "stealing" things. Dusty would bring home many different items from his neighborhood. He was even called a "cat burglar" because of this.

By February 2011, Dusty had collected over 200 dish towels and 100 gloves. He also brought home shoes, socks, and many other objects. In total, he gathered more than 600 items from nearby gardens. His owners nicknamed him "Klepto Kitty" because of his collecting habit. Once, a camera even caught him carrying a bra!

Dusty's Early Life

Dusty was born on March 20, 2006. He was a black point and white Domestic Shorthair cat. Dusty lived in San Mateo, California. Jean Chu and Jim Coleman adopted him from the Peninsula Humane Society.

For his first two years, Dusty lived a normal cat life. But in 2008, his owners started finding strange objects in their home. These items did not belong to them. They soon realized their cat was bringing them home.

How Dusty Became Famous

Dusty's collecting started in 2008. However, he did not become widely known until 2011. The TV show Must Love Cats on Animal Planet featured him. This show helped Dusty become famous.

The "Must Love Cats" team used a special camera. It was a motion-triggered night vision camera. They set it up to watch Dusty at night. This camera caught Dusty in the act. It showed him bringing home his "treasures."

The Animal Planet story led to more news coverage. On February 14, 2011, KGO-TV in San Francisco reported on Dusty. Just a week later, on February 22, 2011, Dusty appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. This made him a national celebrity.

Dusty's Impact and Appearances

After appearing on the Late Show and other news programs, Dusty became a minor celebrity. He attended many community events. He also appeared on national and international news.

In May 2011, Dusty was the Grand Marshal of the Redwood City Pet Parade. He also helped raise money for the Peninsula Humane Society in June 2011.

Dusty's camera footage was so popular it became a special feature. It was included on the DVD for the 2011 movie Puss in Boots. This short film was called Klepto Kitty.

Since Dusty was adopted from the Peninsula Humane Society, he made a special appearance at their annual adopt-a-thon. This event took place in June 2011. Some of the items Dusty had collected were displayed there. They were even sold to help the shelter.

Dusty's owners kept his fans updated. They managed a Facebook page for him. On this page, they shared pictures of all the new items Dusty brought home. Dusty passed away on March 3, 2023.

See also

• List of individual cats