No, I'm not talking about my living room, even though it does become a bit of a "cat circus" when Zoe gets hyper. Believe it or not, there really is a traveling circus of trained cats (well, as trained as cats can get).
You may remember a diary I wrote for Kitchen Table Kibitzing over a year ago in which I talked about going to see the Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock Cats. Well, they're back in Houston, and last night was their opening night. You'd better believe my cat-lover friend and I were among the first in line. There were some new acts, and even the old acts were well worth seeing again. For those who missed my last cat circus diary, I thought I'd talk about my second experience.
In a nutshell, it was a blast. My sides and jaw ached from laughing so hard. Really, I can't think of any better way to spend an evening than watching cats decide whether or not they're going to do the tricks they were "trained" to perform. The night was made even better by an adorable little girl who sat right behind us who was ever so excited about the cat circus. It was like Christmas times a hundred for her. When the cats were done performing, she screamed, "MÁS KITTIES!!!" It was pretty hard for anyone to leave the theater not feeling good last night. I think the cats enjoyed it, too.
Follow me below the fold for more on these incredible pooties. But first, a sampling of their talent...
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Samantha Martin created the Amazing Acro-Cats show several years ago. An animal trainer and former zookeeper, she says she was inspired by her cat Tuna, who remains the star of the show (and is the manager of the Rock Cats band--but more on that later). From her bio on the show's website:
Samantha Martin has had a lifetime fascination and truly unique bond with animals inspiring her extensive background including an associate degree in animal husbandry and services, internships at the Brookfield Zoo, studies in animal behavioral sciences and leading advocate of healthy, effective clicker training techniques building better relationships and solving behavioral problems.
[...]
As a pioneering feline behavioral expert, she’s devoted her life to animal welfare and public education helping people understand their animal counterparts better.
Her extensive resume is outshined only by her alluring and charming personality. Her Acro-Cats show featuring the Rock Cats all-cat band have inspired, thrilled and mystified audiences of all ages coast to coast as well as re-defined live performance with her own wonderfully unique blend of spectacle, entertainment, education, public awareness and a genuine dedication providing financial contribution, promotion and rescue/rehabilitation/adoption assistance, for animal welfare groups wherever she performs.
One thing that becomes clear to anybody who sees this show is that this is a woman who loves her cats. A self-professed "cat lady," she has taken in and found homes for more than a hundred cats and kittens since 2009. Beyond that, she advocates for the same kind of training (which uses only positive reinforcement, in the form of treats) that she used to train her circus cats. As she says at the beginning of every show, training your cat to go to the carrier at the sound of a whistle can be a matter of life or death. Now, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get my stubborn Zoe to do that, but I do think it's sound advice.
The show itself features a wide variety of tricks. Such as...rolling on a cylinder!
Pushing a shopping cart!
Rolling a ball across a tightrope!
Conquering death-defying heights!
Even jumping through hoops!
Of course, above all, they're
cats. Sometimes, even the best-trained among them say, "Fuck it," and walk away.
More than one cat walked right into the audience, much to the shrieking delight of the little girl sitting behind us.
The circus also featured a bowling contest between Tuna and the show's chicken, Cluck Norris (much to Tuna's embarrassment, Cluck Norris won handily).
And then, to end the show (because the cats needed to get back to their eighteen hours of sleep), they rolled out the Rock Cats. Little-known fact: The Rock Cats are the world's only feline rock band. And, as Samantha says,
that makes them the best. It's a full band, featuring guitar, drums, keyboard, cymbals by Cluck Norris, and cowbell by Tuna (who, as I said, is also the manager). Tuna got the show warmed up with a little cowbell (to cries of "More cowbell, Tuna!").
Then, the band played.
And what a sound for sore ears it was.
To sum it all up, I can't recommend The Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock Cats enough. Keep an eye out for shows near you. I assure you, it will be the best twenty dollars you ever spend.
TOP COMMENTS
February 13, 2015
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From ozsea1:
The visual evoked from this comment by Tara the Antisocial Social Worker was priceless; the comments in this diary by quaoar were even more hilarious than the subject that inspired them!
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G2geek offers a nicely nuanced reflection on the variety of Christians, in liberaldad2's thoughtful diary about language here at Daily Kos.
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I nominate here4tehbeer's genius play on words in Hunter's diary South Carolina Republican: Women are "a lesser cut of meat".
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February 12, 2015
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