Hi everyone,
I just jumped in and started making responses to a lot of the topics that interest me, and I am familar with. ** sorry **
I am just a middle aged "cat lady" who has lived with indoor cats since 1980, when I finally bought my first house. Previously I have always chosen rescues -- often those with "issues" or health problems, who would need EXTRA love and care.
I have had one cat - who was blind from birth (but he was still a wonderful companion) He has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.. but will always own part of my heart.
And another who was separated from mommy at 4 days of age when she dropped him into a culvert and couldn't get him out. A neighbor heard him mewing when she went to her mailbox, and another friend of mine helped move the concrete cover from the culvert drain, and rescue him. He was raised on an eyedropper. (Actually I still have him. He's 8 years old, now. He is quite neurotic and has a "tic" when he is agitated, he smacks his mouth and it looks like he's chewing gum. I believe it's from the eyedropper food source from tiny kittenhood. My friends all think he's very funny.
I have a 14 year old red marble and white tabby *Sasquatch* who's mother I rescued when she was carrying him. He is the GRAND OLD MAN of the house -- and he puts up with a LOT of kitten antics... but when I go to bed at night. The space on my pillow beside my head -- is ALL HIS !!!
The 8 year old silver tip tabby mix who sometimes ACTS like he thinks he's a Bengal, too. (He's the neurotic one) is *Tiger*.
Then I have a mostly white with gray hat and tail Van cat, * Hatter * who I rescued last summer, when I discovered my 91 year old aunt was going to call animal control to come get him and his siblings. I found homes for the other 3 kittens, and spayed and re-released his mom. But I couldn't part with Hatter. He was a year old, sometime late last month. (I don't know his exact birthday - since his mom was feral.)
Also, I have a solid white medium haired cat with blue eyes *Casper* who I adopted from Save Our Strays -- to give Hatter a same age playmate. He will be 1 year sometime later this summer. He is my sweet and gentle cat, and the ONLY cat in the house who always gets along with EVERYONE else
I had been looking at bengals for months, before I rescued Hatter -- but was unsure how my older cats would react to such an ACTIVE house addition.
I had been bitten by the "gotta have a bengal - bug" and continued to look at sites. I started talking with Sandra Keever from Unique Prints Cattery, in Texas - - and came in a day late, on a kitten who I thought was *** PERFECT *** But she was very helpful, and gave me lots of good advice regarding what to look for -- and the questions to ask -- and the things about myself I should make sure I TELL the breeder I work with.
One of her suggestions was that I should go to a LOCAL breeder - to see the cats up close and personal, before I commit to a bengal --- lets face it they ARE different in some very exciting and sometimes surprising ways!
I checked out all the breeders in easy driving distance from where I live, and made an appointment with Carol Effinger of SuteraBengals in Birmingham, AL. I looked at her site, before I went for the appointment, and even had my son, who is in the Air Force, to check out the kittens on her site, as well. After much discussion with him, we decided on a kitten we agreed was beautiful and symmetrical in pattern (one of my son's quirks)
When I went to visit her cattery - I took photgraphs of all my other "fur family" for her to see, and she and I had a lengthy talk regarding the qualities I was looking for, in a bengal.
Before I left that day, I had actually PAID for the two sisters, and made arrangements to come pick up the girls, after Carol took them to her vet, to have them spayed.
My bengals are "Sutera Victoria Silk Fancidots" and "Sutera Mary Crescent Satin Fancidots" They will be one year old in June
Carol even gave me a wonderful printout (suitable for framing) of their family tree for 5 generations!
I can't say enough nice things about Carol. I think she is wonderful. And -- the more bengal breeders I talk with -- the more I realize there are some very seriously caring people out there. And, I feel the better you know your breeder -- the more likely you will be to find the PERFECT kitten (or kittens), for your home
OK... that's me, and my wonderful, exciting and entertaining family.
Warm Regards,
LaVon Fabian
"fancidots"