Naperville Adoptathon goes to dogs

The Naperville Area Humane Society hosts a 24-hour adopt-a-thon every year.

And every year, dogs find homes faster than cats.

The popularity pecking order at the shelter is dogs, followed by kittens, followed by adult cats.

As such, the shelter currently has 26 canines but 39 felines. To make the adult cats more appealing, the shelter is cutting the adoption fee for selected "staff pick" cats to $75.

But why is it that dogs are more popular than cats during the adopt-a-thon? I set out for some one-on-one time with some of the "staff picks" to see what may be holding them back.

The first is Albrecht, described on his cage as "quiet and calm" and easy to handle. But right away I can see his problem. Albrecht has bad taste.

All the other cats appear to have chosen copies of the Chicago Tribune to line their cages with for when they have to, well, you know. Can't fault that choice.

But Albrecht has chosen to position his dark side on an Aug. 29 edition of the Daily Herald when I visit him. Same to you, pal!

Not too far away is another "staff pick" cat with an obvious problem as I approach. The cat seems calm enough, but there is a clear identity crisis issue. The name on the cage reads Pigeon.

"Just 'cause I'm named after a bird doesn't mean that I am not 100% feline," reads the description on the cage.

Sorry, buddy. Pigeons just aren't popular. Ask anyone that's been "visited" by a pigeon after they've just washed their car. Consider a name change.

Webster is the last "staff pick" cat I visit. Only this is a tough visit. For some reason, Webster is inside a brown paper shopping bag inside his cage. Indeed, he's in the same bag in a picture on the description on his cage.

This tells me Webster is one of two things: The paper bag may be a subterfuge, an attempt to trick someone into thinking he's groceries and taking him home. In that case, he's a genius. Or, Webster might be suffering from a unique form of agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. In that case, he has psychological issues. Consider some therapy.

Now, some people might say Albrecht, Pigeon and Webster just have character, not issues.

You can decide for yourself by visiting the shelter, at 162 W. Diehl Road in Naperville. The adopt-a-thon ends at 2 p.m. today.