Hi all, I'm new here and looking for some expert opinion on a stray cat I've adopted this week. He had been roaming free for at least a month in an area that is notorious for people dumping unwanted cats. He's been begging food around a friend's house and since she didn't want a cat and none of the neighbors could take him in either she asked me if I would give him a home. He's quite an unusual cat, both in appearance and behavior, and after reading up a little bit on breeds I've got the suspicion that he's a bengal.

- He looks like one with the spots on his sides, striping on legs and tail, and the bengal-typical two dark lines on each side of his face.
- He acts like a bengal: follows me around the house like a puppy, is very talkative with a very loud voice, loves to play with water etc.

I've called animal control and the local humane society to ask whether they have had any missing bengal reports lately, but they haven't had any and told me if I can give him a home that would be the best for him. He's going to the vet on Monday to make sure he gets the shots and tests he needs. He also still needs to be neutered.

I'm posting a picture of him so you can have a look. Is he a bengal? If so, how old might he be? He's a mature male and around nine pounds in weight. I'll also ask the vet, but I thought a few more opinions can't hurt.

Well, the vet seems to agree that he's Bengal or at least part Bengal. Luckily he hasn't taken any harm from being out in the wilderness for at least a month and is all around healthy. (Except for worms and fleas, which he got treated for, and the tiniest little scratch on his nose, possibly from getting too close to another cat.) I guess I'll be hanging around these forums a little bit longer!

One question: Is there a way to discourage him from spraying after he started? The vet thinks he's about 10 months old and we're planning on neutering him in three weeks when he gets his booster shots, but since he already started spraying it might be a bit too late to prevent that behavior.

I'd say he is a full bengal from the pics, can't really age him from a pic but your vets educated guess should be about right.

He should stop spraying after being neutered, he may continue for a while but it should stop completely with any luck....even if he does still spray after the op it won't smell as pungent!

He's a lucky boy to have found you.....he looks totally settled in already!

Good luck with him.

p.s does he have a name yet?

Yep, I named him Mikesch, based on the main character in a children's book about a talking tomcat. Right now, he's going slightly crazy since the flea medicine from the vet is taking effect and the little buggers are crawling all over him in a panic. He must be itching terribly. I hope they all die soon!

hi to me he looks like he is a earlier generation bengal f3 or f4 and might have been dumped by a breeder as he would most probably be infertile does he have any light patches on his ears (occeli)

Here's a picture that shows his ears from the back. Are those light streaks across the center of the ears the ocelli you're talking about?


Here's another picture showing the pattern of spots on his back.