If you liked BEST IN SHOW you will love CATWALK. This is a documentary on Netflix about cat shows. They’re like dog shows but even goofier.
CATWALK stars people who you would swear were created by Christopher Guest. But they’re real. And immensely endearing. Part of it may just be that it’s all set in Canada and Canadians, from what I’ve experienced, are incredibly nice. But cat shows are clearly their passion and you find yourself rooting for them.
What was funny to me was this: They’re cats. Unlike dogs, who like to show off and please people, cats are cats. They don’t give a shit. Part of the competition is a little obstacle course and it’s a riot watching these cat owners trying to get their little darlings to jump over a stick or go through a hoop. They’re cats. Stunts on demand are not their thing. Being brushed and groomed for ten hours a day -- that they'll indulge their owners.
There’s certainly a level of absurdity in these cat shows (as there were in the BEST IN SHOW shows), but the participants take it very seriously (which makes it that much funnier). But like I said, after awhile you get sucked in. I found myself actually rooting against a Persian Red. I just didn’t like her attitude.
The documentary focuses on two competing women who are ultimately friendly rivals. Again, I think that’s Canada. If it were set in the US one of the women would Tanya Harding the opposing cat.
These cat shows appear to take place almost every weekend in Canada and these owners schlep their coiffed tabbies through the snow from one drafty exhibition hall to the next. You sure gotta give them points for dedications – especially since the same two or three cats win every week. And it’s not like the also-rans can say to their cats, “Tomorrow you’re going to start taking piano lessons.”
CATWALK covers it all, from the thrill of victory to the agony of hairballs. I give it a blue ribbon.
14 comments :
Dad got cats based on how good a mouser they were (usually he got Manx cats). If he saw this documentary he'd shake his head and chuckle. But what they've done to Siamese cats is a shame.
I don't think I'll watch. I like cats, but I'm allergic. 🙀 (Unfortunately, they don't have a red eyed, dripping nose emoji. This is as close as they get. 😤)
M.B.
Canadian here. Never heard of a cat show. Despite our reputation for niceness we have our share of assholes . One of them is the Premier of Ontario. That position would be like a state Governor.
With the start of MLB, just around the corner, maybe we should have More Levine Baseball stories.
Best blog post ever.
- Angela Schrute
Scranton, PA.
Yeah, that Persian Red, who the hell does she think she is anyway
Cats are the perfect pet. They love you but leave you alone. You love them but can leave them alone. You never have to work your day around taking them outside. And most importantly, they have the decency to bury their shame in the litter box. More people should be like cats.
Thanks to today post, I now know what a "Persian Red" looks like - reminds me of a joke:
Why do Persian Reds have flat faces......
Tanya Harding the opposing cat
This also reminds me of something. Yesterday, a co-worker gave me a "muddle" - a small finished stick used to crush cocktail ice. Without the name, one would think "what's THIS for?" It's too small to thump salmon, or to thump Rover. But Precious??? hmmmmm
Now I have a catumentary to watch - odds are my cat will walk on me a few times while I watch.
....they chase parked cars!
Saw a recent article about the cats-dogs differences. Humans tend to develop more kinships with dogs than cats because we domesticated dogs far earlier, and dogs have more experience with using body language to get humans' favorable attention. More critically, cats have far fewer muscles in their faces than dogs, so they can't mimic the happy-happy-joy-joy expressions that dogs have (which they have learned to mimic from humans). Cats are essentially restricted to moving their ears, and perhaps narrowing or widening their eyes, as their main nonverbal expressions of mood.
That said, my sister-in-law's cat actually plays fetch with you. Toss a hair scrunchie or similar object across the living room, then the cat will chase it, bring it back to you, and the game continues until she gets board. Meanwhile, my dog never figured out fetch; you'd throw something, he'd get it, then look at you as if to say, "OK, now what?"
Ever owned an intelligent dog? I have and it made me reevaluate that whole "dogs live to please humans" concept. Now I prefer cats. Before I owned the very clever dog my affection for both species was a dead heat.
Sean
Liggie, I swear my daughter's dog Ruby plays reverse fetch. You throw a toy, she looks at it, then you, with a look that either says "OK, now what?" or else "are you insane?!", whereupon you fetch the toy and she puts on her "now dance for me, monkey boy" look.
I sometimes wonder who is the master, except I'm pretty sure she knows.
Thanks for mentioning this.
I bought BEST IN SHOW long ago. Still very funny.
"God loves a terrier...."
Great. Now Trump is going to want to go there so he can grab all those pussies.
This is reminding me of the SNL skits where Kate McKinnon plays a crazy cat lady....
Post a Comment