desktop icon question

[Jeff G.]

U 10.04 gnome w/compiz

I keep a few icons (launchers?) on the desktop.

When clicked via mouse, an icon picks up focus and it stays there until 
mouse focus is moved elsewhere manually.
Problem is, if cat steps on delete button on keyboard, the focused icon 
gets deleted if I'm on the desktop.  Locking the icon doesn't help

Anyway to alter this focus behavior - some silly setting?
Having a hard time with search wording on this, can't find a thing.
compiz settings don't seem to have anything that applies, nor do mouse 
or nautilus settings.

curious pita.

tnx