Cats jumping through hoops? Hard to believe, but it's true. Cat Agility, a new cat competition sport, is catching on. Like dog agility, it was inspired by the gymkhana courses that horses run, and adapted to fit a cat's natural abilities.
Cats run the agility course with the support of their handlers, negotiating obstacles designed to demonstrate their athletic ability, speed, coordination and the quality of their training relationship with their handler. The event is timed with points off for obstacles missed or not completed.
Cat Agility was originally introduced by the International Cat Association club, ICAT (Cat Agility Tournaments) in the fall of 2003, and since, cat owners everywhere seem to have jumped at chance to show off their animals in this unexpected way.
Play Every Day
Must be for special breeds, you say, but any cat with a strong bond to its owner can succeed at cat agility training. If your cat will chase a feather lure on the end of a stick, she's a candidate for cat agility. Once a cat gets the hang of following the teaser and negotiating obstacles, they generally consider the whole thing one big game. And any cat--not just those with pedigrees--can compete. For information, check out http://www.catagility.com. To see a video news report, with cats running the course, click here and scroll to the clip, When Cats Compete.
The Agility Course Obstacles
To train your cat, start with a teaser toy and a few makeshift obstacles set up in your living room. The obstacles in the course include:
Ramp
The ramp is the easiest obstacle. Carpeted to create a surface with secure footing, the cat simply walks up the ramp, across the top and down the other side.
Bar Jump
In the early stages of learning, all jumps should be small and enticing. You can add a ramp at first to help your cat get the idea of jumping over the bar.
Tire Jump
Training your cat to jump through the tire is approached in the same way as the bar jump. Most cats catch on quickly. Jumping over obstacles is a natural thing for them to do when chasing their prey, whether it's a mouse in the barnyard or a toy in a living room.
Tunnel
The tunnel is a long fabric tube laid flat on the ground, and is challenging because many cats decide that the middle of it is a nice place to stop for a rest.
Weave Poles
Weave poles are a series of upright poles positioned in a straight line that your cat must run through alternating from side to side. They'll follow the teaser around the poles.
Natural Athletes
Cats are one of the most athletic creatures on earth with a flexibility that leaves even yoga practitioners jealous, and Cat Agility opens new possibilities for cats to demonstrate their physical and mental intelligence. Cat agility has everyone taking a fresh look at how cats can be trained. Some trainers use food to motivate their charges. Others train using a regimen of toys and clickers. Just remember that your cat needs to be well rested and well groomed before you start. You don't want them stopping to nap or lick their fur.
They Do it for Themselves
For most cats, the challenge on the day of competition is relaxing enough to start playing in the first place. Once they're comfortable in their environment, they generally go full throttle and totally enjoy the competition. Cat agility organizer says dogs do an agility course for praise; cats do it for themselves.
To learn more about the topic visit cats and Articles about cats [http://www.new-cat.com/Index_Of_Articles_On_Cats.html] .
Jerry Alexander is a webmaster and author. His articles, can be found at his Author's web site [http://jerryswrite.com].
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