Feline Agility Training

Many people still maintain the odd notion that cats cannot be "trained".

While I am of the opinion that cats rather than blindly following directions from their human, choose to allow themselves to join their trusted purrson in a delightful partnership in pursuing the sport of Feline Agility training and competition.

These cats participate passionately as they demonstrate their pleasure at the challenges presented to them while competing at cat shows in agility classes sanctioned by the Cat Fanciers Association.

About five years ago CFA started organizing agility contests at regular cat shows featuring pampered pedigreed kitties vying for championship and grand championship status. While open to all cats over the age of four months old, whether purebred or mixed breeds, many of the cats competing are those fancy felines involved in the more traditional classes, and "race on the side."

Here you can find Burmese, Cornish Rex, Abyssinians, Siamese, Tonkinese and Japanese Bobtails, who seem to excel at the sport. The course is a ten- obstacle event, standard from show to show, laid out in a circular pattern which starts with stairs. It includes two hoops, four hurdles, two tunnels and a series of poles which the cats must weave through.

Of course each cat competes on the course one at a time, racing against each other separately for best time. While the speediest kitty generally wins, the top prize is won by points, with bonus points granted for the best navigational style, completing the prescribed course accurately. Points are deducted for missing an obstacle.

Not only is this contest strenuous for the athletic felines competing, but the human "coach" gets a workout as well, as they run ahead enticing their cat by waving toys or feathers attached to a wand, urging them through the course. No treats are permitted as "bait" as the smell can distract the following participant. Touching the cat is strictly forbidden as well. But one can urge their kitty on with verbal cues, and often the room is filled with "come on girl", or "go baby go" as each racing cat is spurred on.

Kim Everett-Hirsh, a CFA All Breed cat judge from Portland Oregon, recently commented about Agility competition. She said, "You have to tempt the cats into believing that this is nothing but fun for them. Dogs, you order them to go and they go. You are god to a dog. With cats, it's the other way around. They're god, and they go when they want."

And there is gold in "them thar hills". Prize money is becoming quite common now, and in addition to the glory of the win with beautiful ribbons and trophies, the cash is an extra incentive.

Read more about Feline Agility Training by visiting: http://www.cfainc.org/shows/agility.html

Seeing is believing! Watch this delightful video featuring a kitty negotiating an obstacle course at a show.

How would your cat respond to agility training? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.