Dusty the Klepto Cat to Return to Old Stomping Grounds

He’s and . Now San Mateo’s most famous cat will be making a celebrity appearance this weekend at the animal shelter where he was adopted nearly five years ago.

Dusty, “the Klepto Cat,” was adopted in 2006 by San Mateo residents Jean Chu and her husband Jim Coleman from the , spokesman Scott Delucchi said.

The formerly homeless Siamese cat gained national fame in February 2011, when the Animal Planet network filmed Dusty on his nighttime exploits, stealing bras, bikinis, stuffed animals and towels from homes in his neighborhood.

Excerpts from the film were quickly posted on YouTube and have been viewed more than 800,000 times.

Dusty has since been featured on national news networks, he was grand marshal in Redwood City’s pet parade in May, and he even made an appearance with his owners on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

“He’s a very social animal,” Delucchi said.

Chu and Coleman hope to use Dusty’s “15 minutes of fame” to help other homeless pets that need to be adopted, Delucchi said.

“They’re great people,” he said. “They just want to have Dusty’s fame help other animals find homes.”

Dusty will be returning to the PHS/SPCA shelter on Saturday to promote the “Steal Your Heart” adoption event, where puppies, kittens, cats and dogs will be available for adoption at reduced fees from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Klepto Cat will be available to hang out with the public and pose for pictures from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and again from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Delucchi said.

The shelter will be accepting donations for embroidered towels stolen by Dusty.

Pictures of adoptable pets are on the shelter’s website at www.phs-spca.org.

-- Bay City News