Samantha Martin has been working with animals and studying the human-animal bond her entire life. At first glance, you may think that her touring show, The Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock Cats, is just a spectacle, but look closer — it is actually an incredible tool for helping educate people about building relationships with animals, emphasizing the joy they can bring to our lives. And, even more importantly in my opinion, the show increases awareness about the cat overpopulation problem we face here in the US and the importance of rescuing cats.
All of the cats in Samantha’s show are rescued. She demonstrates the usefulness of clicker-training for cats in the show as they perform, but Samantha is also a big advocate for using similar training techniques at home, especially in the case of emergencies.
Here’s the part I love: the Acto-Cats have started taking foster cats and kittens on the road with them to give the cats extra exposure and find them forever homes! They have adopted out over 90 cats since they started their foster program.
The Acro-cats Need a New Tour Bus!
To continue taking the show on the road, spreading their message, and adopting out foster cats, the Acro-Cats are in need of a new tour bus. They have a Kickstarter campaign running right now to raise the funds needed to create an amazing mobile cat heaven, equipped with everything the cats and human crew need to tour comfortably. Please check out the Acro-Cats Kickstarter page for more information and to show your support to this great group!
Sadly, Pinky, the Rock Cats’ guitar-playing blue-eyed beauty recently passed away after a second battle with cancer, so the Kickstarter campaign and tour bus project are being dedicated to her memory.
ENTER TO WIN TWO TICKETS TO SEE THE ACRO-CATS AND ROCK CATS IN CHICAGO!
The Acro-Cats and Rock Cats are currently performing in their hometown, Chicago. They have evening shows on Sept 26, Oct 3, and Oct 10 at Stage 773 Theatre and one lucky Chicago-area reader is going to win a pair of tickets! (Actually, you don’t have to live in Chicago to win, you could give your tickets to a cat-loving friend in the area.) To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will get to choose the performance date, either Oct 3 or Oct 10. We will pick the winner in a random drawing on September 30, 2012. One entry per person.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:39 am
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS SHOW…..I TOO RESCUE CATS AND KITTENS…THIS WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE!
September 25th, 2012 at 11:42 am
this is soooo awesome!! I can’t wait to see this show!
))
September 25th, 2012 at 11:55 am
I saw their show here in San Francisco several weeks ago and it was an absolute blast. The cats are so cute and their tricks are pretty amazing and super funny. Samantha is also really funny and sweet and you can tell she loves all of her critters very much. I highly recommend anyone that likes or loves cats to go see it. Heck, it might even turn someone who doesn’t like cats into a fan! =^..^=
September 25th, 2012 at 11:55 am
This would be awesome !
September 25th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Aaaaw… I’d love to see this show. Rest in peace dear little Pinky.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Though I don’t want to enter the contest, I certainly do support the advocacy and responsible adoption efforts!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
This show looks fun! Maybe it would inspire me to teach my cat Layla a trick or two!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Amazing Acro-Cats! I haven’t seen them yet! But want to.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
My best friend lives in Chicago – would love love LOVE to see this show!!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
ROCK ON KITTIES!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I live in mass but would beg my son to bring me. Please have a show in pittsfield mass or williamstown mass u would get sold out in hours.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
I love the Acrocats! I would fly to Chicago to see them!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Hi-It would make my day (year) to see this Cat act. I would just LOVE it! Thank You! >^;;^<
September 25th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I’m ready to pack my bags and go! I have always wanted to visit Chicago, and my 50th birthday is in October, so this would be a great birthday present!
September 25th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
MY HUSBAND & I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE ACRO-CATS! WE HAVE 7 CATS OURSELVES AND TRYING TO TEACH THEM SOME OF THOSE TRICKS WOULD BE EXICITING FOR US AND THE KITTIES!!!
September 25th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
I’d love to see a show and maybe pick up a few tricks for my kids!
September 25th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
I don’t live near Chicago, but if and when they come to S. Fl I’ll be there. Wish all contestants good luck. I’m so sorry about Pinky. She had such beautiful eyes. We have 4 ferals, and they are a delight. Trapped them as kittens.Their mommy, also trapped by us along with spaying and shots, was killed we believe by neighbor,s dogs. She came to our backdoor for our help. Strange as she was wild, but she must have known we cared. She must have been ganged up on as she was street smart. You are blessed for doing such good work.
September 25th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
i’d love to go! i’m going to the kickstarter site right now!
September 25th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
the acro-cats are my life!
September 25th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
I dont know whether I’m more impressed by the trained cats, the bus or what! I have 3 cat rescues of my own. I’m not sure who has been trained by who.
September 25th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Ooh! pick me! pick me! I heart acro-cats!
September 25th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Acro-cats rule, dogs drool. Help a grandma see her grandcats!
September 25th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I’d love to go to Chicago to see this show! Wheels up…Acro Cats and Rock Cats next stop!
September 25th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
We saw them perform the last time they were in Chicago. our family enjoyed the show very much.
September 25th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
I have read about Acro-Cats a while back. It would be so incredible to see them in person!
September 25th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I would love to see the Acro-Cats and Rock Cats! (And it would be great if they could teach me the trick of how to get my cat to stop biting me.)
September 25th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I’m gassing the up the car as soon as I leave this reply!!!!!
September 25th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
I would love to see the show!!
September 25th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I am a long time lover of cats. I show mine many tricks so even if I don’t win, I will probably go watch a nice treat for a hard working teacher:)
September 25th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
How amazing! It’s crazy all the things cats are capable of. Would love to get away and take my mom to go see this.
September 25th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Wow! What a wonderful thing to do to raise awareness. Would love the opportunity to see the show! I think they should go on America’s Got Talent next year!!
September 25th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Wow! I have enough cats for my own show–good way for them to “earn their keep!
September 25th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
My granddaughter would love to see this!! Her kitty does tricks too and has talked about seeing these kitties for quite awhile!
September 25th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I would love to see this show! What a fantastic idea and cause. And I recently lost my girl. I think giving a kitty in need a home would be an honor to her.
September 25th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
would love to see them or get tix for friends in chicago
September 25th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Sounds amazing. I actually saw the Moscow Cat Ballet in LA several years ago. These cats seem to be just as talented. I would love to see these cats perform as well.
September 25th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
My brother lives in Chicago! I would love to take him.
September 25th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
I would love to win!
September 25th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Meowses! Looks awesome!
September 25th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
I would love to see this show!
September 25th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
I love the Acro-cats show. I would love to see them again!
September 26th, 2012 at 4:38 am
Amazing performance. I have clicker trained one of my cats. It takes a lot of time. This gal – has spent thousands of hours. Wow – it would be fantastic to see these cats in person.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:20 am
This seems like a cool show. I never hears of a act like this. Are there any videos I can share ?
September 26th, 2012 at 5:31 am
This looks like so much fun!!!
September 26th, 2012 at 6:52 am
Winning tickets to this would be a treat!
September 26th, 2012 at 7:57 am
OMG Pick me pick me! I love cats I have 3 boys and I Heart Chicago this would be a great 5yr wedding anniversary present to give my DH!
September 26th, 2012 at 9:10 am
This show looks awesome! I love that this show rescues cats, adopts out cats and shares the message that cats are fantastic animals! I would love to see this show. I hope everyone can donate a few bucks to help with a new tour bus!
September 26th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Being a native Chicagoan and cat lover/mom, I would love to win tickets to see the show. Even if I don’t, I’m going!
September 26th, 2012 at 10:56 am
WOW , I WOULD DIE FOR SEEING DIS.DIS WOULD BE WOW WOW WOW.I HOPE I WINE THE TICKETS .To the winner i want to say ENYO ENYO HAVE FUN YOU LUCKY WINNAR!!
September 26th, 2012 at 11:13 am
I would love to go! Cheers to you for celebrating the human-animal bond and sharing the spotlight with foster kitties in need of forever homes.