In the world of cat agility tournaments, legends aren't born. They're trained.

And when felines and their owners gather today at the Clarion Hotel Roanoke Airport, titans will clash. Many cats will run the course of ramps, tunnels and ladders, but only one will be the champion.

A couple of early favorites emerged Saturday during practice sessions. Crackers, a blue Oriental from Greenville, S.C., dominated the early portion of the day before retiring for an afternoon nap.

Enlarge slide show A purrfect competition

Later in the day, Durango, a Turkish hailing from Spotsylvania, wowed spectators with a strong performance.

Waiting in the wings, though, was Sugar, a white kitten who may have the speed and desire to go all the way.

OK, so maybe the tournaments aren't all that cutthroat. They're actually quite leisurely affairs, in which owners try to coax fickle cats through the obstacles using toys and food.

Today's tournament is Roanoke's first. Its proximity to the Star City Cat Fanciers' Northern Lights show in the next room means that a large number of show cats will be competing, but the tournament is open to run-of-the-mill house cats as well. In fact, regular cats may have an advantage, said Vickie Shields, president of International Cat Agility Tournaments.

"The cat has to be in good physical condition," Shields said. "Most of these show cats just aren't there."

However, Shields did note that the top two cats in the country are both show cats.

Packer, a Bengal from Long Island, N.Y., holds the world record and has won seven tournaments. Just behind him is Killi, an ocicat from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Though they represent the cream of the agile cat crop, the two have never met in a face-to-face competition.

None of the cats competing in the Roanoke tournament ranks at that level. At least, not yet. The course at the Clarion is designed for beginners.

Numerous factors play a role in success. Some trainers use food to motivate their charges. Others train using a regimen of toys and clickers. The cat should be well-rested and well-groomed - you don't want kitty losing precious time because he stops to nap or lick his fur. All of these things must be considered before the feline competitor ever sets paw on the obstacle course.

Most important, though, is the bond between the owner and the cat.

"You have to have that good relationship to be a team," said Carolyn Shelburne, a Radford schoolteacher who regularly enters her dogs in agility contests. "If you don't have that, the cat's not going to do it."

Cindy Crenshaw, Crackers' owner, brought him to the cat show as a companion for Logan, another Oriental. She let Crackers try the agility course, and he took to it like a duck to water.

"I thought he might like this, and he obviously does," Crenshaw said. "What fun! I just love it."

Crackers got the hang of the tunnels right away but took a bit longer to master the ladders. Crenshaw tried using a chicken treat to encourage him, but that proved to be a mistake, as he seemed to lose his focus.

Agility expert Shields predicted that after a nap, Crackers would return with a vengeance.

Meanwhile, Shelburne focused on ways to streamline the training process with her cat, Tank.

"I'd break it down into pieces," she said. "It's muscle movement, muscle memory. You've got to click and treat at the right time."

As spectators watched, several trainers also made the rounds with a group of cats brought in for possible adoption. Shields said the agility courses can give potential adopters a chance to spend time with a cat and create a bond.

More ICAT tournaments loom in Roanoke's future. Carol Osborne, president of Star City ICAT, said the group plans to have regular events, and not just at cat shows. She hopes Roanoke-area cat owners will bring their felines to try out the course today. The entry cost is $10, and Osborne asked that people bring their pets in a carrier.

Most cats take a little time to get used to the course and require a couple of practice runs.

However, Autumn, a red Abyssinian from Greensboro, N.C., popped straight from her carrier and "ran the course like a champion," Osborne said. It was the first time Autumn had ever seen an agility course, much less run one.

With such a young sport, cat trainers have barely scratched the surface of the potential talent pool. It's possible that just about any cat who competes today may become the next agility legend.

The next Packer may reside right here in Western Virginia, just waiting for his or her chance.

Cat agility is a sport in which cats are tested for their ability to move quickly through an obstacle course.

Trainers can direct a cat through the course with commands or lure it through with promise of a reward, including food.

Cat agility competitions grew out of similar contests for dogs, which started in 1979. The dog tournaments were originally modeled on equestrian jumping competitions.

The obstacle course includes:

• Two platforms that must be climbed.

• A series of weave poles that function like a slalom.

• Tunnels

• Hoops