FELINES OUTNUMBER MAN'S BEST FRIEND AS NEAR PURRRR-FECT PET

Dogs may be man's best friend, but the independent cat has nuzzled its way into the number one role as the nation's most purr-fect pet.

Cats rule the roost in 24 percent of American households, an increase of 55 percent over the past decade.

More than 56 million cat owners about two million more than dogs can now be counted in the United States, and if the American Humane Society has its way, there'll be even more new cat owners after the month of June.

June is National "Adopt-A-Cat" Month and more than 800 animal shelters are observing the month by promoting adoption of cats and/or kittens.

"Animal shelters are seeing an increasing number of unwanted cats and kittens," said Nancy Davis, manager of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri at Cape Girardeau. "We're fortunate at the local society. We have a 25 percent adoption rate here."

During the month of June, each person who adopts a cat receives a "starter" kit.

"Included in the kit is an information brochure on how to care for your pet, and a box of pet food," said Davis.

One of the reasons for the increased popularity of cats during the last few years is the fact that people are busier than ever now, according to Davis "Cats are good albeit sometimes aloof company, inexpensive to own, and require less attention than other animals, which is a plus for the working person.

"You give a cat a regular supply of food, a warm place to cat nap, a filled water bowl and regular checkups, and they're your friend," said Davis.

The humane society here uses kittens and some puppies in a program designed to bring some cheer to senior citizens, noted Davis.

"We make arrangements to take kittens into nursing homes," said Davis. "This gives kittens the opportunity to become acquainted with a homelike atmosphere, and senior citizens welcome the chance to meet the pets.

"A lot of cats and dogs, which are turned in to the local shelters, belong to someone," said Davis. "We urge people to contact us if they have a pet missing, or if they see a strange pet in the area. In most cases, we can find the owner."

Davis also urged pet owners to neuter or spay their cats.

"Pet owners who choose not to neuter their cats should consider the sobering statistics of pet over-population," said Traci Tormey, who works in the 9-Lives Cat Food public relations department.

"Kittens are cute," she said, "but, they grow up to be cats, and a single unneutered cat (and its offspring) can be responsible for up to 32,000 kittens over a period of seven years."

The American Humane Society estimates that more than 15 million unwanted cats and kittens wind up at shelters each year.

"Shelters that accept all cats brought in must humanely euthanize about 80 percent of these felines," said Tormey. "Euthanasia is the number one killer of cats in America today."

She said an estimated 12 million felines are euthanized each and every year due to a shortage of adoptive homes, and the failure to neuter cats in many adoptive homes.

"Our objective is zero feline population growth," said Tormey. "Such a philosophy will not wipe out cats. Rather, that for every cat that dies, one will be born."

Of the lucky 20 percent of cats who find adoptive homes, few are luckier than an orange and white feline discovered by 9-Lives Cat Food at an East Coast animal shelter only moments before he was to be put to sleep.

Morris, as he was called, went on to achieve national stardom. He appeared in more than 60 9-Lives commercials, was credited with four books, and appeared on such television programs as "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "Good Morning America" and "Entertainment Tonight."

9-Lives and Morris were big boosters of Adopt-A-Cat month, and helped place more than a million cats and kittens into loving homes.