The Amazing Acro-Cats bring cat circus back to San Francisco

FILE — Buffy the cat rolls on a ball during an Acro-cats performance at Southside Theater in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, June 9, 2016. FILE — Buffy the cat rolls on a ball during an Acro-cats performance at Southside Theater in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Photo: Connor Radnovich, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Connor Radnovich, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close The Amazing Acro-Cats bring cat circus back to San Francisco 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

There are some things you never knew you needed until they came clawing (and meowing) at your front door. One of these things is a cat circus. Another of these things is an all-cat band.

The Amazing Acro-Cats is the antidote to the feline-shaped hole in your life. Returning to the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture in San Francisco from May 1-14, the troupe of cats will perform impressive feats including ball rolling, hoop jumping, skateboarding, and more. Then, comes the stunning finale: Tuna and the Rock Cats. Yes, that's a band made of real cats, playing real instruments, from cowbell to keyboard.

All aforementioned cats are rescues from Georgia-based Rock Cats Rescue, where the cats are clicker-trained to accomplish these acrobatic oddities. The resulting circus performance is quite the spectacle, even if the cats don't always cooperate with doing the tricks they are being asked to do.

To preview the Acro-Cats in action, check out their appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or their YouTube channel. Get tickets to the Fort Mason shows here ($25-$45).