Fast CAT is not only one of the fastest dog sports, it鈥檚 also one of the fastest growing dog sports! In Fast CAT, dogs of all breeds and sizes race a straight 100-yard dash after a lure. Most dogs love to run, making the sport a great introduction to performance events for both dogs and owners. Dogs should be in good physical condition to compete in Fast CAT, but they don鈥檛 need a lot of specialized training, making it a great option for those new to dog sports.
With , there鈥檚 likely a Fast CAT event coming up in your area. Although Fast CAT is extremely welcoming to newcomers, and most dogs take to the sport right away, it can still be intimidating to try something new, especially if you aren鈥檛 exactly sure what everyone is talking about. If you鈥檙e ready to get started with Fast CAT, check out this guide to get a handle on the different commonly used Fast CAT terms:
BCAT
BCAT is the first Fast CAT title. A dog earns their BCAT title when they earn 150 points. Once earned, this official title will be added to the end of your dog鈥檚 registered name.
Catcher
The catcher is the person (often the dog鈥檚 owner) who is at the end of the FAST CAT run and collects the dog at the end of the 100 yards. The catcher can call and encourage the dog to run faster. Then, when the dog reaches the end of the FAST CAT, the catcher gets the dog and leashes them.
Calculations
Fast CAT scores are calculated with a formula. The formula involves multiplying the dog鈥檚 miles per hour (MPH) by the appropriate height-based handicap. The result of that calculation is the number of points that the dog receives for an individual Fast CAT run.
Course
Course refers to the space where the Fast CAT run is taking place. The 100 yards of the course must be flat and straight from beginning to end. Hazards should be removed from the course.
DCAT
Dogs earn their DCAT title when they earn 500 points competing in Fast CAT. Once earned, DCAT is added to the end of a dog鈥檚 registered name.
Dog Retrieval
When a dog completes their Fast CAT run, they must be collected and leashed so that the next dog can run. Dog retrieval refers to the process of calling, catching, or collecting the dog who has just run. Being able to retrieve a dog quickly and efficiently after running is important to prevent delaying the event. Until a dog has been retrieved, the next dog can鈥檛 run.
Fast CAT
The CAT in Fast CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test. Fast CAT is open to all purebred and mixed breed dogs. Because most dogs love to run, it鈥檚 a sport that many dogs love and excel at right away.
FCAT
The FCAT title is earned when dogs earn 1,000 points. Once earned, FCAT is added to the end of a dog鈥檚 registered name. After earning the FCAT title, dogs can earn additional FCAT titles for each additional 500 points they earn. Those titles will be listed as FCAT [insert number2-] at the end of the dog鈥檚 registered name.
Fencing
For the safety of the dogs participating, AKC regulations encourage clubs offering Fast CAT events to consider having fencing around the coursing area. However, complete fencing isn鈥檛 required. Before entering, check the premium to see the status of fencing at a particular Fast CAT event. The premium must indicate if the course will be enclosed with fencing.
Field Conditions
Ensuring that dogs can run safely is always the priority. Field conditions refers to the state of the ground that the dogs will be running. The ground should be flat and free of obstructions or hazards which could cause injuries to dogs.
Handicap
Handicap is part of the calculation to determine a dog鈥檚 Fast CAT score. The handicap is determined by a dog鈥檚 height at the withers. For dogs who are 18鈥� or greater, a handicap is 1.0. For dogs who are 12鈥� to 18鈥�, the handicap is 1.5, and for dogs who are below 12鈥�, the handicap is 2. This handicap is multiplied by the dog鈥檚 miles per hour to get the score for each Fast CAT run.
Lure
With Fast CAT, the lure refers to what the dogs are chasing as they run. The lure is a white plastic bag that is attached to a line and pulled down the course for the dog to chase. The lure stays out ahead of the dog and encourages them to run as fast as possible in pursuit.
Lure Operator
The lure operator is the person responsible for running the lure that the dogs are chasing. The lure operator鈥檚 job is to keep the lure moving at a consistent pace and distance from each dog that鈥檚 running. Controlling the speed is important so that dogs don鈥檛 catch the bag or slow down before they reach the finish line when running their Fast CAT run.
Releaser
In Fast CAT, the releaser is the individual who holds the dog preparing to run, and then lets them go. The releaser is usually a friend of the dog鈥檚 owner, who usually will choose to be the catcher to motivate their dog to run faster.
Run Out
Run out is the stopping distance that a dog has when they finish the 100-yard run. With Fast CAT, there should be a minimum of 30 yards and ideally 50 yards at the end of the run to provide adequate stopping distance. This gives safe distance for a dog to stop and allows the lure to go at a consistent speed past the finish line. The stopping distance also helps prevent dogs from being unable to stop and hitting the barriers at the end of the run.
Scoring
Scoring for Fast CAT is done based on how fast the dog runs (miles per hour) multiplied by the handicap. This gives the dog鈥檚 points or score for each Fast CAT run and determines how many points a dog earns.
Timing
Timing for Fast CAT is recorded to the 1/100th of a second. A dog鈥檚 speed is used to calculate their miles per hour speed, which is then used with the handicap to determine the overall score.
Top 20
Each year, the AKC publishes a list of the , based on the overall results of the year鈥檚 Fast CAT events. These AKC Fast CAT rankings are what people are referring to when they say 鈥淭op 20.鈥�