Homotional Rescue: CATS ROCK

Pity those boys who love cats. While I might be a devout canine owner right now, I grew up firmly in the other camp. My best friend growing up in an often hectic household was Caesar, a brown and grey domestic shorthair who would purr for six hours straight and sleep under the covers with his head on my pillow.It wasn't the manliest companion for a six-year old boy to keep, but our household collie-mix and I existed only as respectful colleagues.

I love cats in a way that is completely separate from my love of dogs. While the former anchor their happiness to yours, treating you like benevolent domestic gods, cats are content to grace you with their presence when they see fit, knowing more than they let on and loving you more than you suspect. These days, I never drop my coonhound Neko off at daycare without spending some quality time with the tabby brothers who live in the adjoining pet store. One likes to play with my shoelaces while the other curls up in my lap. My whole day tends to go downhill from that early zenith.

Our fourth segment in the Homotional Rescue series features a woman whose devotion to cats makes mine look trivial. Laura Petracca, of queer superstar band Hunter Valentine, not only fosters cats in her free time but jumped at the chance to keep on helping after her appearance here. The three kittens we're holding in this interview -- as well as the cage full of black kittens, too young to even be handled -- were some of my favorite in my entire day of Homotional Rescuing. Quite simply: cats rock.

For more information on how you can help shelter animals, visit the ASPCA's "No Pet Store Puppies" homepage.