THIS IS, LITERALLY, THE CAT'S MEOW.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

Feline fanciers of all shapes and stripes will take to Yuri Kuklachev's ``Moscow Cats Theatre'' like a tabby to catnip. With 30 cats, a couple of dogs and a fair amount of clowning, what's not to lap up?

Promised feats of feline ingenuity or daring are a tad overrated. The featured performers of ``MCT'' -- all of whom have been ``trained'' by leading clown Kuklachev -- seem largely to be doing prototypically cat behaviors.

At the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, where ``MCT'' wraps up its quickie engagement Sunday, this translates to lots of running back and forth, a couple of plunges from great heights and shinnying up a pole (or up Kuklachev's body).

And, above all, it means doing what cats seem to do best: lounging. On decorative, wire-suspended platforms, on hula hoops, in baby carriages, whatever.

Kuklachev and his fellow clowns have plenty of likable interplay with those remarkably calm little sphinxes. I suppose you'd have to if you make a career of traveling the world sharing the stage with animals.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

[e-mail]

MOSCOW CATS THEATRE - Three stars

Where: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. Eighth St., Los Angeles.

When: 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $49.90 to $57.90. [phone]

In a nutshell: Cats and motion, clowns and a couple of outnumbered dogs.