Cat Acrobats Are Coming to Philadelphia

Samantha Martin is bringing her Acro-Cats — as well as feline band The Rock Cats — to Philadelphia this weekend for six shows.

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Do you like acrobatic stunts but can’t deal with watching humans fling themselves a hundred feet in the air? You’re in luck: The Acro-Cats are coming to Philadelphia this weekend.

The Acro-Cats are performing six shows at the Painted Bride Art Center through Sunday. They’re led by trainer Samantha Martin, who created the show about 10 years ago. Martin’s cats — all former orphans, rescues and strays — is one of four “cat shows” in the country. But she says her show contains the only cat band, The Rock Cats (which features a chicken, Cluck Norris, on the cymbals).

Part of the proceeds for the shows in the city will go to the Philadelphia Community Cats Council.

Martin runs Amazing Animals, which connects media companies with animal actors. Her animals have appeared in everything from cat food ads to The Tonight Show. About 10 years ago, she started the show in an attempt to keep her cats fit and alert between sessions. “People started showing up and just really liked the show,” she says. Now she tours the country each year.

Contrary to stereotype, Martin says it’s not hard to train cats. “Cats like to be trained,” she says. “It’s a game for them.” She says cats of any age can be trained, but she likes to begin with kittens around four to five weeks old for her show. In addition to being trained, the cats needs to become comfortable around humans. “The first three months I sort of just take them everywhere,” she says.

The Rock Cats The Rock Cats are the world's only cat band. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Martin) Acro-Cat NOLA NOLA, the newest cat in the troupe, walks a tightrope. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Martin) Acro-Cat Alley Acro-Cat Alley recently set the Guinness World Record for longest cat jump. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Martin) Acro-Cat Jax Jax balances on a beach ball. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Martin)

The Acro-Cats show is part-entertainment, part-education. “There’s so many homeless kitties out there,” Martin says. “There’s a huge problem with overpopulation. I try to do my part.” Martin says she has found homes for 159 cats through her show since 2009.

The tour continues this summer in Brooklyn, Boston and Portland, Maine. She’s hitting the Midwest later in this year, and touring the West Coast again in 2016. She says she never thought her show would end up like this.

“At first you’re just hoping that people show up,” she says. “And it’s kind of awesome. And then you try to make it a little bit more of a show, adding music and costumes. And it just kind of spilled into this monstrosity now that takes three hours to set up and four hours to tear down and move out.”

This weekend’s shows are at the Painted Bride Art Center. Tonight’s and Friday’s show are at 8 p.m., Saturday’s shows are at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday’s shows are at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.