Photo Essay: Circus Cats Of Chicago

Pet owners who force their furry companions to wear costumes would seem to have a couple of screws loose already. Training them to do adapted circus acts and perform four shows on the weekend, as Samantha Martin and her entourage do with the Circus Cats of Chicago at the Gorilla Tango Theatre, takes that sort of eccentricity to a whole new level. But while at first glance it might all sound like a visit to the local weird cat lady's house, don't let that stop you from having your mind blown for an hour solid.

An infant in the audience spent most of the show clapping enthusiastically and clutching the sides of his head in wonder, as if trying to keep his freshly liquefied mind from leaking out his ears. Decider may be a little more developed than that kid, but we had roughly the same experience. Words can't do justice to such mind-blowing weirdness, so here are some shots from the show's more memorable moments for you to consider while our brains recover. 

David Wolinsky

Tuna, the group's de facto leader and head bell-ringer, brings the crowd to order before gesturing toward the tip jar. The cats' band is trying to raise enough money to get an electronic drum kit.

David Wolinsky

There aren't just cats in the cat circus. There's also a kinkajou, a groundhog, and Hendiana Jones, a hen whose skills include bowling and ringing bells. The spectacle is more impressive than this chicken's strike. Who can't nudge a ball down a ramp?

David Wolinsky

There are also rats in the circus, but they elicited more "ewws" than applause. Also, a note to the fellas: Samantha makes sure to mention that she's single, lives with all her animals, and is available. Do you like rats?

David Wolinsky

The cats are the stars of the show. Their ability to shove obstacles toward their treats are a real crowd-pleaser.

David Wolinsky

No rings of fire here, but that a cat will jump through a hoop at all is impressive. Later in the show, this cat was presented with a ring obstructed with tissue paper, but the feat was deflated a bit when he just clawed a hole before leaping through. Still, there's no other show like this in town, and no other band that plays guitar with its dewclaws:

(This is what the show is really like.)

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