Dusty the Klepto Kitty facts for kids

Dusty the Klepto Kitty was a famous Siamese cat known for his unusual habit of "stealing" things. He became very well-known in 2011 because of his amazing collection of items. Dusty wasn't a typical thief; he was a cat who loved to bring home objects he found outside!

By February 2011, Dusty had collected an incredible amount of stuff. His haul included 16 car wash mitts, 7 sponges, and a whopping 213 dish towels. He also gathered 7 wash cloths, 5 towels, 18 shoes, and 73 socks. Plus, he had 100 gloves, 1 pair of mittens, 3 aprons, and 40 balls. Other finds included 4 pairs of underwear, 1 dog collar, 6 rubber toys, and 1 blanket. He even brought home 3 leg warmers, 2 Frisbees, 1 golf club head cover, and 1 safety mask. Two mesh bags, 1 bag of water balloons, 1 pair of pajama pants, and 8 bathing suits were also part of his collection. In total, he had 8 other "miscellaneous" objects.

Dusty earned his nickname, "Klepto Kitty," because he brought home more than 600 items. He found these treasures from the gardens he explored at night. His owners said his biggest "stealing spree" involved eleven different items at once. He was even caught on camera once, proudly carrying home 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. His owners, Jean Chu and Jim Coleman, adopted him from the Peninsula Humane Society.

For his first two years, Dusty was just a normal cat. But in 2008, his owners started noticing strange objects appearing in their home. These items didn't belong to them! They soon began to suspect their clever cat was bringing them home. Eventually, they confirmed their suspicions. Dusty was indeed the mysterious "cat burglar."

How Dusty Became Famous

Even though Dusty started his "thieving" in 2008, he wasn't widely known outside his neighborhood at first. That changed in February 2011. The TV show Must Love Cats on Animal Planet featured a story about him.

The "Must Love Cats" team set up a special camera. It was a motion-triggered night vision camera. This camera helped them catch Dusty in the act! They filmed him bringing home his many treasures. After the Animal Planet report, Dusty's story spread quickly. A journalist named Vic Lee from KGO-TV in San Francisco did a story on February 14, 2011. This led to Dusty's biggest moment: an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on February 22, 2011.

Dusty's Celebrity Status

After appearing on the Letterman show and other national news programs, Dusty became a small celebrity. People all over the country and even internationally heard about him. He attended many community events in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also appeared on various news outlets.

In May 2011, Dusty was the Grand Marshal of the Redwood City Pet Parade. He also made an appearance at a fundraiser for the Peninsula Humane Society in June 2011.

The footage of Dusty from the Animal Planet documentary was so popular. It became a special bonus feature! This three-minute short film was included on the DVD for the 2011 movie Puss in Boots. It was even titled Klepto Kitty.

Since Dusty was adopted from the Peninsula Humane Society animal shelter, he returned there as a celebrity. He appeared at their yearly adopt-a-thon in June 2011. Some of the items he had "stolen" that were never claimed were even displayed and sold at the event.

To keep his many fans updated, Dusty's owners managed his Facebook page. They regularly posted pictures of all the new items Dusty brought home.

See also

• List of individual cats