Cats Jump Through Hoops For Prizes at Oklahoma’s International Cat Agility Tournament

March 10, 2008 - PRLog -- Oklahoma City, OK –  Cats will compete for prizes during the International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT) competition to be held at The International Cat Association, Inc. (TICA) championship and household pet cat show in Oklahoma City. Hosted by Thunderkatz Cat Club and sponsored by pet food manufacturer Royal Canin,  “Springtime in Oklahoma City” will be held April 26-27, 2008 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Rescue cats from local rescue groups will be on hand to  run the agility course side by side with more than 200 pedigreed cats and household pet cats competing in the championship, kitten or alter, household pet and household pet kitten divisions.  Proceeds from the show will benefit the non-profit cat rescue groups JoAnimals and Thunderkatz Feral Fund.

Household pet cats rescued from local shelters will be on hand to compete in the agility competition.

During the ICAT competition, cats run through an obstacle course in a fenced-in area of the show hall.  They will jump through hoops, run through tunnels, and weave around obstacles, working with their owners much as dogs do in their agility competitions.  “Clean runs” are valued over fastest times, but both are important in determining the winners of the ribbons and cash prizes being offered for the event.  Cats with “clean runs”, that is, no faults or refusals on the course, earn points toward cat agility titles.  Cats can also earn agility skill certificates at the show, for completing required numbers of obstacles in a qualifying time with a limited number of “faults” or refusals.

“Cat agility tournaments are still in their infancy, and we’re learning as we go,” said Susan Lee, ICAT Agility Official from Okemos, Michigan.  “We find the cats behave more like horses on the agility course than dogs.  They look ahead to the whole course like horses; they don’t take it obstacle by obstacle like dogs. It’s exciting to watch a cat on the agility course for the first time.”

The cats start out following a toy, running the course with their owner.  “When they get the idea, they look ahead on the course and know what they are doing.  Sometimes, then, they’ll jump the obstacle, before the owner has the toy ready.  They KNOW that’s what they are supposed to do, and they enjoy it,” said Lee. “Of course, cats are cats, and some WON’T, but almost all of them enjoy being in our “cat playpen” and stretching their legs on a cat show weekend.”  

The agility tournament will be also be officiated by Bill Lee.  The Lees have officiated at numerous agility tournaments in Illinois, Canada, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.  

Prizes will be awarded at the end of the weekend to the top three cats and kittens running in the event. There will also be awards to the top three junior handlers, which are youth between eight and eighteen.



To learn  more about Thunderkatz “Springtime in Oklahoma City” championship and household pet cat show and ICAT’s agility competition visit www.thunderkatz.org



About International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT)
International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT) is devoted to creating a new category of cat competition in which cats negotiate an obstacle course designed to display their speed, coordination, beauty of movement, physical conditioning, intelligence, training, and the quality and depth of their relationship with their owner, who trains with them and guides them through the course. To learn more visit http://www.catagility.com


IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION

Event:   International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT) cat agility completion in Oklahoma City, OK at The International Cat Association (TICA) championship and household pet cat show. Hosted by Thunderkatz Cat Club and sponsored by Royal Canin.

Local cat rescue groups will be on hand with cats available for adoption. Those cats will compete with household pet cats adopted from local shelters plus the purebred cats in the agility competition. All cats will have to weave through obstacles, jump through hoops, and run through tunnels trying to achieve
the “cleanest run” and fastest time for cash prizes.  

Proceeds from the show will benefit local cat rescue groups: Contributions appreciated:
Adults:$4.00  Youth: $2.00

Location:   Centennial Building, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds,  609 Kiamchi Place, Oklahoma City

Dates:  April 26-27, 2008

Times:  9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Contacts:  
Debra Decker
TICA Marketing
817 371 7194
Siddhis2003@yahoo.com

Marty Young
Show Manager
Thunderkatz Cat Club
405 213 5612
cattrekker@aol.com

Web sites:  International Cat Agility Tournaments  - www.catagility.com
 The International Cat Association – http://www.TICA.org
 Thunderkatz Cat Club – http://www.thunderkatz.org
 Royal Canin – www.royalcanin.com

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About The International Cat Association (TICA)
Organized during 1979, The International Cat Association is the world's largest genetic registry of purebred and household pet cats and one of the world's largest sanctioning bodies for cat shows. To learn more visit www.tica.org

Website: www.thunderkatz.org