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| Lion-taming, on a modest scale |
Every circus and variety show used to have a trained dog act, but it was widely assumed that cats are untrainable, because they are so individualistic and independent. This is largely true, but in fact there have been a few “cat acts” in history. In Italy in the 1800s, Pietro Capelli began training the street cats he had befriended.
To his great surprise and delight, he found cats could learn to juggle with their hind legs, walk on tightwires, play toy musical instruments and do other feats that dazzled audiences, even the jaded rich. Amazing what time and love and patience will do.
