Russian circus cats

angels mommy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 5, 2011
Messages
6,899
Purraise
6,906
Location
Wilmington,NC
That's great!  I don't know if it was the same guy, but years ago the same kind of act came here. (cats & dogs though). It was a Russian guy & his daughter. The rescue cats, figure out what each one is good at/ does naturally, & that's how they do it!  I took my niece & nephew to the show, it was great. I'm surprised the cats work in that loud environment.

I think the guys name was something like Polivich????
 

callista

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
I think the cats must be the sort who like the challenge, the physical activity. You know, the outgoing type. Not all cats would like it, but these little guys seem to be in their element!
 

mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
46,566
Purraise
23,328
Location
Australia
Anyone else really uncomfortable with this?

Maybe it's just me and my concern for circus animals in general.
 

callista

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
Circus animals are at risk, but a performing animal is not necessarily mistreated. There's nothing about being taught tricks and performing them that's intrinsically abusive, just like there's nothing about being a feral cat, or living at a no-kill shelter, or being a cat owned by a breeder, that's intrinsically abusive. Cats in all those situations have been abused, but the fault isn't in the situation; it's because some thoughtless or sociopathic human chose to abuse those cats.

Somehow, I doubt that these cats are being abused. You can see how some of them seem to be clowning for the audience. And even when they're carried across a trainer's hip, the cat will brace its back legs against the human, so it's obvious they're used to being slung around like that and pretty comfortable too. The act itself says that the trainers know and appreciate a cat's attitude--several times they play like the cat is being finicky and stubborn, because let's face it, cats have their own ideas about what they want to do. The cats themselves have a lot of energy, look healthy, and seem to be very comfortable around their trainers.

Mani--I agree that sometimes circus animals really are abused, and that we need to be sure that that doesn't happen; that they're treated well and fed and vetted properly, that there's a place for them to go when they're too old to work; that if a circus goes under or an act ends, the animal has a place to go instead of just being put down. But in general, teaching an animal to perform for people is not something that hurts the animal or the people around it. Most animals are happy to have a "job" to do, stimulating activity, things to think about and investigate. Some animals will even grow depressed if they are expected to do nothing but sit around. And many of us, living in cities, just don't get the opportunity to see animals beyond cats, dogs, and pigeons. Seeing an animal perform is a way to connect with animals.
 
Last edited:

revenwyn

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jun 1, 2012
Messages
275
Purraise
16
My one concern is that the cats might have to start the show hungry. But it appears they are very treat oriented cats.
 

mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
46,566
Purraise
23,328
Location
Australia
My one concern is that the cats might have to start the show hungry. But it appears they are very treat oriented cats.
That was my concern, too Revenwyn.  Hopefully they are just really into treats.
 

callista

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
They might start the show hungry, but it's unlikely to be any hungrier than "Hey! Human! Time for my next meal!" Any more than that, and they're too hungry to concentrate on their tricks and just spend the time begging.
 

angels mommy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 5, 2011
Messages
6,899
Purraise
6,906
Location
Wilmington,NC
Anyone else really uncomfortable with this?

Maybe it's just me and my concern for circus animals in general.
No, I saw a piece on them on a show once. (If it was the same people, but don't think there are to many of the same, so prob. was them).  This father & daughter team go to shelters to rescue cats.

They live with them as pets. They observe each one to see what they naturally like to do, then incorporate them into the act according to what that is. This way the cats are doing what is natural to them.

"One likes to climb, one likes to jump etc.."   They love them & they are their pets. They purposely go to shelters, so they can save cats.
 

mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
46,566
Purraise
23,328
Location
Australia
No, I saw a piece on them on a show once. (If it was the same people, but don't think there are to many of the same, so prob. was them).  This father & daughter team go to shelters to rescue cats.

They live with them as pets. They observe each one to see what they naturally like to do, then incorporate them into the act according to what that is. This way the cats are doing what is natural to them.

"One likes to climb, one likes to jump etc.."   They love them & they are their pets. They purposely go to shelters, so they can save cats.
Thanks, Angels mommy.. That's really good to hear
 
Top