***Rare Pictures***Minnesota HOOPING Bugs****

[bvar22]

"Hooping the Kittys" is a daily event at our house.
It is announced with much dramatic fanfare and theater.
The participants enjoy the event and are quick to respond.



This is Bug. He's been Hooping for a while.
He knows his way around a hoop, and knows he can get the job done.
Bug is a prima donna, and is in it for the attention and adoration of his fans.
He slowly walks out on the Hooping Court and calmly sizes up the hoop.
He pauses to let the drama build and to make sure everyone is watching.




He then expertly launches himself through the center of the hoop.
He is careful to pick up all the style points. Bug is a veteran Hooper.




Bug knows the dismount is important, and always makes sure to stick the landing.





The little gray kitten is Maggie, but we call her "Little Bug" or "Doodle Bug".
She was in kitty jail before she came to live with us a few months ago.






She learned to HOOP in just one day after watching Bug.




Maggie is a just a rookie Hooper. You can tell.
She is enthusiastic, but loses style points by rushing the hoop.




She is getting better with daily practice, but she really needs
to slow down and think things through before she Hoops.




After a vigorous round of HOOPS, they relax.

They could get on Stupid Pet Tricks and be Famous,
but Bug hates Letterman....He insists on Leno every night.





***Bug in the Tub***
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x1425



***When Worlds Collide***
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=2668&mesg_id=2668



***Bug on a Post***
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x4253

[Lorien]

1. More great shots!

How did bug start hooping? There's directions for training kitties to the hoop in my clicker training book, but I haven't found a suitable hoop yet. He definitely seems to enjoy the adoration, lol! Maggie is quite a sharp little girl, picking up on the trick so quickly. What a couple of show offs you have there!

[bvar22]

5. Thanks.

The HOOP is a "Juggler's Ring" and you can buy them at Clown Supplies or Magic Stores. Its the right size and has good visibility.

Teaching is pretty simple. Pick a time of the day when the cat is hungry and use a favorite treat.
Place the hoop on the ground and show the treat through the center of the HOOP. (I say the word "HOOP"). The cat will step through the hoop to get the treat.

Gradually raise the height of the hoop keeping the treat visible through the center of the hoop. Most cats will get it pretty quick. After a while, you can stop showing the treat through the hoop.

Bug started hooping around Christmas. He was depressed about confinement (he seriously wanted to go home) and we were looking for ways to keep him challenged and entertained.

The normal time for HOOPS is 30 minutes before their regular supper time. They always have access to dry food, but love their stinky wet food for dinner (5PM SHARP), so they are usually alert at that time and in a game mood (because they are trying to manipulate getting supper early). I make a BIG PRODUCTION out it with lots of drama and theater. Its fun for me and they seem to respond to all the hoopala.

Maggie literally Got It on the first day after watching Bug. Bug was PISSED and wanted to KILL her because she was sooooo smart and stealing HIS game. We had to HOOP them separately for a few weeks.
Now, they cooperate well. Maggie sometimes messes up the traffic pattern when she steals Bugs turn, but it is mostly great fun.
I laugh continuously. They enjoy it. It is something challenging and entertaining for apartment kittys, and they get a little exercise before supper.



I'm thinking about mounting the hoop on a stand and see if I can get them to sit on little stools like lions in the Circus and HOOP on a voice command.

[arikara]

8. I'll have to try that with Tuffy!

He's been getting a little bored with his usual toys. He floats like a butterfly and used to do superb backflips while chasing a feather on a string but it seems to have lost its appeal for him lately.



If Tuffy can learn to hoop, his big sister Turtle will copy him. Turtle is a 15 pounder who watched Tuffy do backflips then actually tried one herself. She didn't think it felt as fun as it looked though.



Here are Turtle and Tuffy all played out after their evening game of tag.

[Lorien]

9. That's a gorgeous cat! n/t

[Eurobabe]

2. LMAO! Thanks Bvar, those are so

cute!! Great pictures. Maggie sure is getting big -- nice to see that she and the Bugmeister have truly bonded now.

Such talented felines you have.... :)

[BrklynLiberal]

3. TRULY talented kitties. And it is wonderful to see that Bug had seen his

way to allowing Maggie into his world. That last picture of her napping on his back is priceless.
Thanks so much for adding these to your collection.

[Phentex]

4. I love Bug's pictures!

And the last one of the two of them curled up is adorable! :)

[demnan]

6. That just made my day

Those beautiful cats playing and romping through hoops were just so cute! Maggie is so cute -- I love that little tabby and her indominable spirit, and Bug just has to be a big show baby!

Give a pet and a head butt from me and my babies to you and yours!

[roguevalley]

7. aren't they wonderful!!!

[SiouxJ]

10. How fun!

Very impressive! You need to inform them that Letterman is an ally, while Leno seems to love the Shrub. I haven't seen that many cats on SPT so it would be great if you could get on it and show how talented cats can be too. :-) In any case, it's very cool what you've done. Thanks for sharing!

[IndyOp]

11. Wow - hoops is great! I loved "Bug in the Tub" and "Bug's Tree" too -

have you considered turning these into a children's book?

If Carl the Rottweiler can earn fame and fortune, why not Bug? (and his sidekick Maggie).

:kick:

[Gregorian]

12. Hahahaha! This is just brilliant.

And I'll say that THIS, and sharing recipes, is what we should all be doing on this planet.
Thanks for giving me one more reason to smile today!

[bvar22]

16. I smiled too

when I saw this old thread back on the front page.
Bug and Maggie say, HI!
:hi:

[LiberalFighter]

13. Careful now... that looks like the toilet seat

What happens if the cat mistakes it for your ring? Splash

[bvar22]

15. LOL

The toilet is one of their favorite objects of fascination in the house.
I'm surprised that neither one has fallen in head first. If they ever learn how to flush it, all is lost, because they love it when the water goes round & round.
After the water stops, they both look up at me with that "Make it go again, Daddy!" look!

Kitty fascination with the toilet would be a good topic for a photo essay.:)

[Princess Turandot]

14. Adorable. I'll have to give this a try. Razpy will do anything to get..

rope or string to ripe apart. Maybe I can tangle some on the other side of a hoop.

Yuri likes to play fetch with the strips from milk containers. He started the game with me by dropping one at my feet one day. I threw it and he caught it in mid air and brought it right back. He will not play the game with anything else, oddly.

[bvar22]

17. Maggie is a retriever too.

She has to initiate the game, and she will only do it with a particular mouse toy. When she wants to play "fetch the mouse", she is more demanding than a Labrador with a tennis ball.

The game seems to be evolving lately.
I think SHE wants to hide the mouse, and have ME go fetch it.
She is training me now.

Bug & Maggie say "HI" to everyone!