DOCUMENTARY PROVES NOT ALL KITTY FANS ARE CRAZIES

CAT'S ALL FOLKS!

DOCUMENTARY PROVES NOT ALL KITTY FANS ARE CRAZIES

REGARDLESS of how your Valentine's Day turned out, if you live with a dog or cat, you experience unconditional love. To prove it, tonight at 8, Channel 13 will air "Why We Love Cats and Dogs," the latest installment in PBS's prestigious "Nature" series.

It's not uncommon for fans of felines to come across somewhat wacky on film. But in a surprising twist, this documentary reveals them (or should I say us, since I make a brief appearance with my cat Bruce) to be well- grounded.

As for the "cat lady" stereotype, women are not alone in having special bonds with feline friends. Among the men speaking eloquently about cats is New Yorker Noel Casler with Curren, the tuxedo cat he adopted from North Shore Animal League. Only it's not clear who adopted whom that day: "He looked right into my eyes like he was saying, 'Where have you been?' " Casler recalls.

Curren even tried to warn Casler about the woman who would later break his heart. Refusing her "Here, kitty, kitty" advances, the cat looked at Casler as if to say, "Dude, she's bad news." Clearly, Curren has Casler's best interests at heart.

Eye-opening footage of the International Cat Agility Tournaments held in Arlington, Texas, reveals felines navigating obstacle courses just as well as dogs are known to. Additionally, renowned vet Dr. Nicholas Dodman explains that you can teach an old cat new tricks.

Director-producer Ellen Goosenberg Kent deserves kudos for capturing the feline-human connection on film. "I never realized that cats, like dogs, can have very different personalities," she says, "and that some people are truly able to develop a deep, two-way communication with a cat where they can learn to understand each other's likes, wants and needs."

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