When I brought my first Havana Brown home, I knew this breed was different than any cat that was in life. High intelligent, Havana Browns are very “doglike”. In fact I found an old book published in the 1950’s that called the Havana Brown the “puppy dog of the cat fancy”.
How true! I quickly learned that my kitten – Hershey – wanted to do more than toss catnip mice up in the air. He would watch my every move and look me right in the eyes, and upon my verbal command would come, sit, stretch and “strut” (walk with a swagger and swoosh his tail). As he grew up we moved to “volley ball” practice (I’d toss one of his fuzzy balls and he’d bat it back) and then jumping from table to table and running across them upon my hand and verbal commands.
We were doing it all for fun. Then I heard about the International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT). Held at The International Cat Associaation (TICA) shows, I registered Hershey as one of the first cats with the organization (I think he’s number 35 or something like that). Organized in 2003, since then ICAT contests are held around the world and cats earn titles.
Since then, Hershey – who is now a (little) plump five-year-old – has been filmed for various cable shows (and soon a show on national TV) about cat agility. He’s such a prima donna that he really loves being in front of the camera. He’ll strut and swagger, and then do what he loves to do: speed through the tunnel, jump through the hoop and over the bars we go! With each round he gets more excited and jumps higher, and runs faster.
I’ve tried agility with my other cats, and while Tim is just too fat to do it, my two girls can fly over the jumps like gazelles. But will they do it in front of a camera? Heck no! Like any woman, we want to make sure we look our best when being filmed and I think they don’t get to do that by flying through tunnels or over jumps. Oh well!
Hershey’s next big adventure is at TICA’s 2008 Annual Cat Show in Arlington Texas. Not only will there be over 300 cats from around the world competing in 12 rings of judging, but I lay odds many of those cats and kittens will be jumping through hoops! You can’t resist doing it!
Cat agility is not only good for your cat – it helps keep them physically trim and mentally stimulated and happy – but it also provides a time for you and your cat to be together and have fun! Isn’t that what it’s all about?
If you’ve never seen a cat agility contest, check out TICA’s show schedule and see if there’s a show near you with ICAT on site. And if there isn’t you can still do agility at home with your cat! You don’t need any fancy equipment: run them across the bed with a teaser (or try your hands or a clicker!)…over the back of the sofa…under tables….or jumping over a kitchen or ladderback chair on its side. Your cat will love it..and love you for it!
Happy Hurdles!
~Deb
