By a Whisker

If herding cats is notoriously difficult, then training cats to do acrobatic tricks must be nearly impossible. Nearly, but not entirely, as proven by The Amazing Acro-Cats, a group of house cats who can perform such mind-bending feats as walking tightropes, jumping through hoops and playing in a five-piece band called the Rock-Cats that also features a chicken on tambourine. No, that is not even a joke.

Trainer Samantha Martin first discovered her passion for teaching animals to do weird stuff 25 years ago with a cage full of rats. Unfortunately, “rats aren’t very marketable,” she notes, so she expanded her lineup with the goal of getting her animals into commercials; ultimately, the most marketable group turned out to be cats, and to keep their skills sharp, the Chicago-based Martin occasionally takes them on the road.

But it’s not easy: “The cats, they’ll mess with you a little bit,” she admits. “They’ll switch up a trick or decide they want to do a different one, or they’ll just amble over to the merchandise tables. They’re really unprofessional, actually.”

But that’s all part of the charm. The Acro-Cats fly today and tomorrow at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo Street, with shows at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. both days. (You can also catch the cats in Boulder at Nomad Theatre June 26 through 29.) For tickets, $12 to $15, and more information, visit www.circuscats.com.

June 18-19, 12, 2 & 4 p.m., 2011