Cat Scratch Fever

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot...like...me?" Kaitlin -- who is five years old -- is singing to me. She's waving her arms in the air, tossing her hair and even doing a little shimmy with her hips. Okay, some context here: I'm with young Kaitlin, her sister Lauren and her mom and aunt. We're standing in line at a Verizon Wireless store in The Woodlands on a breezy Saturday afternoon, waiting to get a glimpse of the über-sexy burlesque troupe-cum-pop stars the Pussycat Dolls. The PCDs are in town opening for the Black Eyed Peas, and they're taking some time out for the public. Nearly 300 frenzied fans -- virtually all of them girls age five to 15 -- have lined up for the party. There's a big black Hummer playing Pussycat Dolls tunes and videos. Under a tent, people are singing the group's hot single "Don't Cha" and working their best PCD moves in a dance-off.

Finally, to Kaitlin's delight (and mine, too), in walk Dolls Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Melody Thornton and Kimberly Wyatt. (Turns out the sixth Doll, Jessica Sutta, isn't feeling too hot. No matter, my faves -- Hawaiian/Russian/ Filipino lead singer Nicole and sexy blond backup Ashley -- are here.) I get a chance to chat with the cats. One of the Dolls, Carmit, witnessed Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl when she was a backup dancer. "So have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction?" I ask. "Somewhat," she giggles. "I mean, we all wear costumes, and sometimes they can come off. It happens to the best of us." Oh, man, she's killing me.

Melody brings it back to business. "Musically," she says, "we want to collab with the Neptunes next, and Prince." (By the way, "collab" is "collaborate" in music-biz-speak.)

Fair enough. So, considering that stars like Charlize Theron, Carmen Electra and Britney Spears have done the burlesque thing with the Dolls, what other A-listers would they like to collab with? "I actually think Jennifer Lopez would be an amazing Pussycat Doll," says Ashley.

"Beyonc#142, that's who I want!" says Melody.

"Ooh, Shakira, too," says Nicole. "She's foxy."

"Gotta be sexy females," says Kimberly. Now they're all killing me.

Then, it's on to the fans. The ladies are perfect Dolls as they sign autographs, pose for pictures and offer hugs to the fans well past their allotted time. As I leave, I go for broke and ask the million-dollar question (for guys, anyway).

"Okay, so I do wish my girlfriend was hot like you," I say, referring to their single. "Now what?"

"Be yourself and be nice, please," says Nicole.

"Be confident and not cocky," Ashley adds, giggling.

Got it. Now to tell my girlfriend...