Hi all

Sorry for a weird one as a first post, but something is troubling me.

I'm currently cat sitting for some friends and was after some advice. The bengal involved has moved in with us temporarily, is 'poor' quality (much as I dislike using the term as she's very sweet) and was purchased at 7 months. I tried to find the breeder's details so I can contact her but I can't find them, the owners are abroad so haven't got back to me regarding that yet. I'm concerned that this is a 'backyard' breeder. I have found the advert they originally responded to, where the kittens are described as seven month old bengal females with little more in the way of detail. What concerns me is that she was sold unthinkingly to inexperienced young people who've never owned a cat, let alone a bengal, with no papers, no neutering (She's in heat now at 9 months old, which is what prompted this post) and clearly has some health issues.

They were sold at £400 each which is obviously very cheap and would have been suspicious to an experienced owner but they've clearly been duped, does anyone have any suggestion as to recourse? I know there's no legal wrong doing but it seems an awful way to be offloading cats to people who don't know better.

Obviously first things first I'll be suggesting they get her speyed as soon as they're back...

Thanks

I've encountered a lot of "ads" for bengals online. If it is from a breeder, they will usually put their cattery name in the ad. I can't tell you if your friends were duped, but most good breeders make sure their kittens are spayed and neutered before going to a new home. This little lady definitely needs to be spayed ASAP. And health issues need to be taken up with a veterinarian ASAP.

I don't know that you can convince your friends of anything -- and truthfully, there isn't much they can do about it at this point. They obviously love the kitty and felt she was worth the money they paid or they would not have gotten her. My opinion is that you don't say anything because you honestly don't know anything. You have suspicions, but can you prove them? Have you owned enough bengals to determine a "poor quality" cat? Obviously, this kitty did not come with registration papers, but maybe the owners don't care. Don't try to burst their bubble with fallacies. Just continue caring for the kitty in their absence and make sure she gets lots of love and attention.

I don't think I would approach the owners with any suspicions of backyard breeder (though I will say that it seems very likely in this case) - it's really not worth it as it's already happens.

That being said, I would 100% strongly suggest to the owners that they get her spayed. Not only are there major behavioural issues with an unspayed female; the biggest issue is one of health. Unspayed female cats can get a conditional called Pyometra which is an infection of the uterus. It's extremely serious, it's life threatening. The older she is going into heats the higher the chance of pyometra.

Even breeders don't keep their queens unspayed after they are retired from breeding. It's just too dangerous to the cat.

Hi again

Thanks for the responses - I've actually managed to contact the owners and they've given written permission to get her 'done' so we've booked her in for tomorrow. It'll be nice to get some sleep... Four sleepless nights at the moment. We'll also get them to look at her other issues

As for my 'poor quality' comment, one would think that the genetic problems alone would be enough to qualify that, although what I had in mind was her small ears and (in relative terms) faint markings. Everything else about her is classic bengal - she's playing with the tap right now!

Thanks again

Great news!

Glad to hear it

Happy to hear she is getting spayed and other health issues are getting taken care of. As for the faint markings -- it will depend on the type of bengal. Silvers and snows will have fainter markings. Does not make them any less of a bengal or a poorer quality -- it's just the type they are. It would be helpful to have a picture so we can see her better. You've been a great caregiver for this little lady while her "parents" are gone. Gold stars for you!

She's been done now, much quieter, if a bit grumpy! Conjunctivitis being treated too... These owners don't have a clue; we had to ask the vet to trim her nails too as we were getting scratched up trying to do it - obviously they'd never trimmed them so the poor thing had super long claws that stuck in everything. We've really bonded with her - it'll be very difficult to give her back!

Won't let me put a picture up, apparently the file size is too big :(

Just know that it takes a while for the female hormones to completely leave the system. Happy she is doing so well. What a great thing for you to do in having her spayed. No more heat cycles for her. And it's easy for the vet to trim the claws while she is under anesthesia. Unfortunately, those claws will sharpen right back up.

Unfortunately, a picture needs to be 256k or less. Many phone cameras offer you multiple sizes when taking a picture. I know we would love to see a picture of her.