We have two Bengals... Faust is three and Max is a year old.
Faust didn't start packing on weight until after he was 2, like the breeder said most males of his line do. He was up to 19 lbs at one point, now at 17 pounds.
Max, on the other hand, is a freak of nature. He had violent diarrhea for the first eight months... they did everything they could think of, multiple trips to the vet and several floor to ceiling cleanings of the house until we figured out that he has a corn allergy. The intestinal diet food the vet gave us had corn in it, too. We now have them on EVO (after Blue Buffalo turned out to be a disaster) and free feed dry only because they are nasty and mean when they don't have access to food. Faust refuses the raw diet and Max is only starting to become interested in anything other than the EVO (we're in the U.S. and it's one of the more highly recommended dry foods for Bengals).

Max weighs as much as Faust and he has an enormous gorge pouch. We noticed it starting when, as a kitten, his belly would swell hugely after eating and then he'd have a massive sh*tastrophe. I'm not sure if this is something that he's now stuck with? He's pretty lean under the extra skin, but it swings when he runs it it's rather.... unattractive. And I'm worried that it's unhealthy.

I'm worried about changing his food because we've only been blow-out free for a few months. They were unbelievable. He'll be going to the vet in a few months for his check up and shots and I'm sure I'm going to get yelled at for the free-feeding, but they are violent when they don't have food and attack my other cat, who is 14 and ancient.

His mother had suspected Addison's disease and had to be euthanized several days after he was born, so he was bottle-fed and hand raised with another Bengal housecat and an F1 kitten about 7 months older than him. So, he's extremely busy, very active, and very, very different from our Faust. Has anyone had experience with the gorge pouch issue?
Thanks!

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Cats very often have an extra flap underneath which helps them run and leap, can't remember what it is called. It would help if you photograph it.

I am assuming you ruled out TF when the vet was doing the testing on Max. Have you thought of feeding raw food?

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Lollo

It's called the primordial sac

Eric already has this loose bit of skin hanging down underneath, he's only 7 months and not in anyway overweight, like Lollo and Manic cats said it's a cat thing - http://www.ehow.com/info_12088225_primo ... -cats.html

OH, I guess I can't call Kimura my little fat boy anymore...

Let me see if this works...



The thing about it is that it's almost two handfuls of skin. I don't know if you can see it.
Is that normal?

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Oh, that's horrific.



I'm glad to know Max isn't too much of a freak of nature... except that he runs funny to avoid the belly skin whacking him on the legs.

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Binki has one too! It's pitiful when she runs around. We call it her waddle belly. She could probably lose a couple pounds though. She has been getting more exercise since we got Max. Feel a little bad posting these... Don't want her to get a complex.





Last time she went to the vet she was down1/2 an ounce. She goes back this Sat. Will be interesting to see what she weighs now.

Aw Binki is beautiful!

Tried to get some pics of Eric this morning that show it, he's only seven months, not in anyway fat but he's getting his little hanging furry tummy!





All stretched out, you can see there's not an ounce of fat on him, he's like an accordian, that little pouch lets him stretch out a loooong way

Hi All, all cats have a primordial pouch, but it is especially pronounced in wild cats since it helps them eat a big kill and "stock up" and for the aerial acrobatics too :-)

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Best Wishes,
Joe and Rasputin
MN, USA
joseph.tilseth@gmail.com

Here is a better picture

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Best Wishes,
Joe and Rasputin
MN, USA
joseph.tilseth@gmail.com