Feline Agility Training

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| Print | By | February 7, 2009 9:59 AM

By: Jo Singer

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."

07-Agility Training.jpg

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.

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Anonymous February 8, 2009 12:15 PM

LOL I don't know if this cat was 'really' trained or just good at following his favorite toy...at any rate, cats can be trained...and they can train themselves. Is this why Mousey gets me up at 5AM every day? LOL

Anonymous February 8, 2009 1:21 PM

How totally entertaining! I have never seen a cat do that before. I guess if dogs can do it, so can cats!

Anonymous February 8, 2009 3:52 PM

OMG that is so cute. We all know cats think they are God, and they have to be catered to. But this shows just how into this they are. Love it!

Anonymous February 8, 2009 6:13 PM

...and we know that cats only do what they WANT to do, so you have to make them really, really want to run the agility course (I know this because Nick, my dsh, told me so!).

Slylark

Anonymous February 9, 2009 12:28 PM

I have cats that have run the agility course in CFA and this is in region 7. Marie, a white female Maine Coon had female and a male from her first litter ran it, and awhite female out of her second litter ran it also. Marie, who ran it in 8 seconds placed first. The male and female of her first litter placed 4th and 5th at 4 months old and came home with their first rosettes and her daughter VZ first try was 15 seconds (she was 4 months old) and she placed and brought home her first rosette and cash!

There were no ramps going up and down then. They use steps in this region. 2 hoops, 2 tunnels and two I think, 3 jumps, and the weave. The ramp would make it easier because the first thing the cat encounters are the steps and a lot of them are not sure of the steps.

I found not all breeds like the agility and most Maine Coons will look at you and say, "sure lady". But there are a few who love it and will give it all they can. It is fun and you can get worn out keeping up with a cat that is fast. But if you have one that loves it you can have a lot of fun with them.
Stella Gaylor
R P Cathouse
http://rpcathousemainecoons.com/

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