Hello lovely cat people

I'm considering rehoming a four and a half year old ex-stud Bengal boy from a local breeder.

I know that Bengals often get a bad press, but I believe that every cat is different, and am not shy about putting the extra effort in.

He was neutered last November and as far as I can tell, has been living in the owner's house since then (but I only have his word for that).

The reason he has given for rehoming is that he feels the cat would benefit from being in a house with no other cats.

I'm going to see him next week - can anyone tell me what to look out for, or any specific questions that I should ask his owner?

Thanks!

hi

make sure he is everthing that has been written about him!

see if he comes to you/approachable etc.

ask if he still sprays!! you do not want him indoors if he is still doing this!
some people do keep spraying cats indoors but it will eventually stink!

rehoming is done usually for a reason and this seems that he doesnt get on with other cats now that he is "done" and out with the others so ,seems genuine!

there is no more really that can be written!
use your gut instinct and see how it goes!

regards
FG

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SALVAJE BENGALS
Wild looking but wildly loving

Thanks, that's really useful.

The spraying thing does worry me slightly.

What if the owner says that he doesn't spray inside, and then when I get him home he does? I imagine it could be a temporary thing due to the stress of rehoming, but is there a chance that it might be a permanent thing?

Would I be within my rights to return him to the breeder? Obviously that would be the very last resort

got my friend thinking on this as well!

any reputable breeder would be at hand for you!
will get back to you!

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SALVAJE BENGALS
Wild looking but wildly loving

Hi

I think like FG. Any breeder worth her/his salt would not like to see their cat in a home that wasn't suitable, and would retrieve it if necessary.

I presume you are thinking of him as a house cat, therefore it would be highly unreasonable for the breeder to home a spraying cat with you. Make sure that you make it quite clear to him that you do not want a cat that sprays as he will be an indoor cat and see what his reaction is. If he says he will definitely take the cat back if he starts spraying then you probably will have to take him at his word, if he says then it is basically your look out, once he leaves his establishment, then I wouldn't.


Elsa

Hello again

I decided to just call the guy and ask about the spraying (I'm away from home right now, otherwise I would have gone to see him).

Apparently the cat HAS been spraying in the house, but the guy seems confident that this is because there are other cats around. He also said that he would take the cat back (within 7 days) if he did start spraying when rehomed.

Obviously this would be really distressing for all of us, so I'd like to avoid that situation.

Should I just steer clear and maybe get a younger cat that has been neutered earlier?

x

Hi,

Not a good situation to have a spraying cat in your house.

The breeder could be right in that it is just because there are other cats around, but the cat was a mature unneutered male for a large part of his life and I presume he sprayed then, so it might be difficult for him to stop now.

I have two moggies who came from the CP, they both were mature when I rehomed them and they were neutered only prior to being rehomed. One never sprays, the other does if let into parts of the house he is not used to, but doesn't in the areas he usually frequents. That is, apart from some infrequent 'mistakes' (I need to make sure any 'new' things are kept out of harms way). We live in a relatively 'safe' rural location and they are a bit older and do a lot of sleeping, but they are free to come and go as they please during the day, so I think that takes the pressure off the house.

I do feel sorry for the cat but perhaps he needs to be rehomed to a safe outdoor situation, rather than to an indoor home.

Even if you did get him and he stopped spraying, then in the future you may want to get another cat, but wouldn't be able to, in case your first cat started spraying again.

You have to decide before you bring him home if you can cope with a spraying cat as I don't believe, he will go back after 7 days. Not that I believe the breeder will go back on his word but the cat will have his paws firmly under the table by then, if you know what I mean.

Elsa

Thanks again for your very wise words.
x

Hi There,

Our first stud boy sprayed all over the place in his cat house outside. When he was neutered at 3 years old we couldn't believe he'd stop spraying so soon.

However we did have a female that sprayed like a tom cat. When we had her neutered we felt that she needed to go to a single cat home as we felt that a lot of her spraying was due to her dominance.

She's now settled in her new home and doesn't spray. I did advice the new owners not to buy a second kitten or cat as the marking of territory could begin again

My advice would be if you are happy to take on a cat that you know is still spraying and could ruin your carpets or take a chance and hope that in a single cat home the spraying could stop.
It was good of the breeder to be honest with you and will happily take him back.

We have an ex stud boy in our home right now and he doesn't spray anymore.

Let us know what you decide to do

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All the Best
Elaine Lomax
www.wildside-bengals.com

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- Dawn

http://www.nutkitty.com

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All the Best
Elaine Lomax
www.wildside-bengals.com

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Sarah

Founder- Bengal Cat Rescue
Tel: 0870 777 8149