Is the Bengal cat non-allergenic?

While it is possible some people with cat allergies may be able to tolerate Bengals, as allergies can vary from person to person, it is untrue that the Bengal breed is non-allergenic.

Although some books, magazines, and websites claim that some cat breeds, such as the Bengal, Rex, and Sphynx, don’t cause allergies this claim should not be taken at face value. There is no such breed. The TV series "Friends" had a fictional non-allergenic cat.. Unfortunately, it has led many people - and even some doctors and veterinarians - to recommend some breeds as a pet for cat-allergy sufferers.

For most cat-allergy sufferers, it is not the cat hair itself that is the problem, rather it is a protein produced by glands in the cat's skin and by its saliva glands which causes cat allergy. Over the years this protein accumulates in the feline's fur, as well as in the carpets and furniture.
All cats produce this protein, though some produce less than others. No cat is hypo-allergenic, not even hairless cats.

Some people may be allergic to large quantities of the allergen (e.g. on longhaired cats), but suffer fewer problems with cats that have lower levels of dandruff because they have less fur to carry the dust. Again, no cat is truly hypoallergenic - it all depends on how badly allergic you are.

Cat allergy has prevented many people like yourself from enjoying these independent and quietly affectionate creatures. Being allergic doesn't necessarily mean you can't have a pet or that you must give up the one you already have. You can solve this problem by learning more about minimizing pet-related allergies and making some minor adjustments to your environment. Controlling allergies takes some work, but if you really want to...YOU CAN DO IT!

Of course, you should take your doctor’s advice. However, current studies are showing that the problem may be solved by washing the cat regularly, and spraying the rooms in which it lives with a new allergy control product "Allergy Control Solution," that primarily contains tannic acid (a compound found in oak bark, coffee, cocoa and tea).

There are other measures that you can take to help protect you from an allergic reaction to your cat. Have someone else vacuum the house. Also it may he helpful to have a vacuum with a HEPA filter and by using bags that are extra thick and designed for those that suffer from allergies. It is suggested that you reduce the areas that can trap the allergens. Gradually replacing carpet with hardwood flooring and cover mattresses and pillows with air-tight casings may also ameliorate the problem. Since 1/3 of our life is spent sleeping, keeping the cat out of the bedroom can help excessive exposure. So keep the cat out of your bedroom! An air filtration system will reduce the amount of allergen recirculated. Air filtration systems can vary in cost but can greatly improve the air that you breathe.

Anyone with cat allergies hoping to own a Bengal should make a good, long visit to a Bengal cattery to see how they react. We are always happy to have visitors here at Bagheera/MillCreek Bengals.

What Color is the Bengal cat?

First, we should make a distinction between color and pattern. Bengal cats come in two different patterns: spotted (leopard) or marbled. The following discussion will deal with color.

Bengal cats come in three different background (ground) colors:

• a shade of brown (or black),
• snow which is a shade of cream (or white),
• and silver.
  

Extreme contrast and sharp edges must exist between the markings (pattern) color and the background (ground) color.

Snow Bengals come in three distinct colors and each may be spotted or marble:

• Seal Sepia color is a shade of seal sepia on an ivory, cream, or light tan background color. Paw pads are brown, tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eyes are gold to green, the more richness and depth of color the better.
  
• Seal Mink color is a shade of seal mink on an ivory, cream, or light tan background color. Paw pads are brown, tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eyes are aqua (blue-green) to green.
  
• Seal Lynx Point; The blue eyed Bengal. Pattern color is dark seal brown, light brown, or tan on an ivory to cream background color.

The Amazing Bengal from those who should know

I am including a few comments from some folks that have adopted some of our kittens. Of course I am not including their names for obvious reasons, but the stories are true!

Recently, I faced some complications to my health. My little guy seemed to know I wasn’t feeling well and staked out a spot in the bed next to me and camped out for HOURS…such a love. Also, he has discovered the joy of ice cubes in the water bowl and paws around until they melt…loves it. He has full run of the house now and is fearless/curious and friendly to visitors. (Leigh)

There were 22 Bengal cats and 9 Bengal kittens at the show. Nice ones, too! So Linus had a lot of competition. There was a Seal Mink Spotted Tabby so he was competing for Best of Division. He ended up with: 12 - Best of Color 9 - Best of Division; 3 - 2nd Best of Division; 2 - Best of Breed; 3 - 2nd Best of Breed; 1 - 3rd Best of Breed. 3 ribbons: 4th place SH (16 total); 5th place SH (16 total); 5th place AB (31 total). Very nice showing, indeed! :) And we had a lot of fun! (Susan)

The Duel by Eugene Field

When I was a little fellow, my mom read to me and my siblings from A Treasury of the Familiar, edited by Ralph L. Woods. This is one of poems/stories, etc., that I particularly remember.

The Duel by Eugene Field

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas half past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"
and the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"
But the gingham dog an the calico cat
Wallowed thi way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw --
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate --
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat:
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)

Bengals That Own Celebrities

While doing some research into famous people (celebrities) who own Bengals. I received the generous help of many breeders (and others) in compiling a list of some fifteen or more very distinguished Bengal owners. Among them are Barbara Mandrell, Bruce Springsteen, Calvin Klein and the Wrigley family. The information was somewhat sketchy on most and I have attributed that to the desire of celebrities for privacy.

One day recently, while Cathy and I were out in the cattery doing some routine chores, including clipping nails, checking ears, etc., we received a telephone call. Cathy took the call, but was not able to hear very well because all the cats were talking at once, wanting their share of attention. Cathy explained what was going on and asked the caller to please call back in about 10 minutes. Annoyed, I chided her, telling her that she should have stepped outside and taken the call. We did not get a call back in 10 minutes, but the caller did call back about 30 minutes later.
Cathy had a difficult time understanding the very nice lady who spoke with a French accent, but she was able to answer several questions. The lady promised to call back soon. Yea, right! How many times have we heard that one!

But, she did call back. Cathy asked me to take the call and see if I could understand her better than she could. I talked with lady and soon learned that she had done her homework. She identified two kittens on our website that she was interested it. I explained the merits of each one and she made her choice. I then explained that I would need her name, address, etc., for the contract. I had some trouble understanding her as she told me her name was Lady Micheline Roquebrune Connery. When I asked for clarification I was a little stunned when she said, "I am Sean Connery’s wife! Wow, what a moment. I was both excited and humbled as we continued our discussion. My mind was racing with the thought that we were going to place one of our Bagheera Bengal kittens with Lady Connery, an accomplished artist in her own right, and Sir Sean Connery, who found fame and fortune as James Bond, the suave, sophisticated British agent 007.

The Connery's proclaim that they adore "Bon Jovi" (named after the band, a favorite of Sean’s) but it clearly has become Sean's cat, not Micheline's. Sean can never stop telling others about his Bonjo as they call him. Cat stories are about all the two of them talk about!

How Are Bengal Cats Different from Other Breeds of Cats?

I am always amazed when folks ask me if Bengals are mean. Part of my amazement is the fact that I live with these exciting, amazing creatures every day. And they are such sweet, loveable, cats. Although they do have a wild cat (the Leopard Cat of southeast Asia) in their background, the Bengal is a delightful house pet.

Cathy and I, as with all responsible breeders, are more than ordinarily careful in selecting and breeding to have Bengal cats with loving and gentle temperaments. The initial wild heritage of the Bengal cat makes the all the more important than with other breeds.

Like their wild ancestors, Bengals are active cats that love to climb, jump, run and romp. Of course they have to substitute whatever they can find in the house for the jungle trees and plants used by their forefathers.

Cat Nip

Catnip (Nepatia cataria) is a plant native to North America. Fresh leaves of the catnip plant have a mint-like scent, while dried leaves smell like alfalfa. In all members of the cat family, contact with this plant causes a peculiar reaction called the catnip response. The primary active compound in catnip, nepetalactone, is chemically similar to hallucinogens. Catnip is not toxic to pets.

The catnip response includes initial investigation, oral contact, grasping and kicking, and abandonment. It lasts an average of about 6 minutes but is most intense for 2-3 minutes. Male and female cats of reproductive age are more sensitive to catnip than very young or old cats.
Cat owners derive great pleasure from the apparent enjoyment of their pets. Some cats are eager when catnip is offered and seem to revel in its effects, while other cats appear to avoid it, despite prior displays of catnip sensitivity.

The behavior pattern associated with catnip may be more closely related to predatory behavior. A cat’s reaction to the detection and capture of prey parallels many of the phases of the catnip response. Pawing and marking, clasping and rolling onto the side, and rhythmic kicking with the back feet are common to hunting behavior and the catnip response.

Cat Shows

Though I would give you a little information on my recent cat show experiences. Since the first of the year I have been to a show in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, then to one in Birmingham, AL, and finally Atlanta, Georgia. I have gotten myself pretty involved in these shows. I serve as Treasurer for the Destiny Cat Fanciers that puts on the Fort Walton show; as Vice President of the Bama Paws & Claws club that puts on the Birmingham show, and Treasurer and Co-Show Manager of the Hotlanta Cool Cats club that puts on the Atlanta show. It has been a lot of fun, but a lot of work. I really love seeing all the really "cutting edge" cats, talking with the breeders and owners, and the judges. What a great learning experience.

I will be going to St. Petersburg, FL at the end of April. I just may go to "Big Cat Rescue" again. I loved that place.

A Vist to the Jungle

I had the great pleasure to make a quick 3 day trip to Sarasota, Florida. The purpose was to see Ben (my son) and get him settled. The real highlight of the trip was when he and I went to the Big Cat Rescue on Saturday. What a wonerful place. It is not a zoo, but a wild cat refruge. They have wild cats rescued from the entertainment industry, private persons, and surplus zoo animals.The admission was very reasonable, so I was delighted to be able to make a gift, too. This is good work they do. Different from a zoo, where you are free to walk around on your own and look at the exhibits, here we were members of a small group taken on an escorted and narrated tour. Great, factual information was provided on each individual cat, as well as the species.We saw lions, tigers, and bears - - no not bears - that was in The Wizard of Oz . We did see lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, pumas, (black panthers), Jaguars, Sand Cats, Caracals, a Snow Leopard, a Clouded Leopard, Lynxes, Bobcats, and Ocelots.The great thing about seeing all these cats was that we were "up close and personal" with them and they were all very active. Nothing like in a zoo. If you can take this tour and not be awed by the splendor of these wonderful creatures then I would have to question your humanity.When we left the Big Cat Rescue we went to the Tampa Zoo. We really should have done it the other way around and gone tothe zoo first. After the rescue tour, the zoo was a disappointment. Not that it is not a wonderful zoo, for it is! But it was just not anything near the experience we had at the rescue.If you are ever in the Tampa area I urge you to experience the Big Cat Rescue.

Making A Difference

I was asked the other day why I support cat rescue organizations. I was told, "There are so many strays and feral cats out there, you will never be able to do any real good." Well that reminded me of this little story:

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young woman and the young woman wasn't dancing, but instead she was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young woman paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young woman, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young woman listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said- "It made a difference for that one."

How the Weeping Willow Got It's Name

A farmer, annoyed that his barn cat had just given birth to another litter of kittens, decided that his farm had enough mouths to feed. He put the newborn babies in a feed sack, went down to the riverbank and threw the kittens in the water to be rid of them. In the turbulence of the fast moving river, the tie on the sack became loosened which set the kittens adrift. On the riverbank witnessing this horrible sight, the distressed mother cat wept loud and pitifully.

A cluster of willow bushes, along the riverbank downstream, heard her cries and in sympathy held out their branches like mooring lines. This enabled the desperately floundering kittens to grab hold as they drifted by. Now in mythology, when the life we are assigned on earth is doomed but because the spirit is eternal, myth dictates that the spirit can live on but must be in an another earthly form. Because the kittens were destined to die, but their spirits were saved, they then became part of the willows which had saved them. Ever since then, in Spring, the willow-without-a-flower decks itself out in gentle velvet buds that feel to the fingers like the silky coat of a small cat. These buds are known today as catkins and remarkably, in every country, these soft willow trees are named after cats.

Wild Cats are WILD!

During the late 1980s a gullible martial-arts student was convinced that he could kill any wild animal. After all, his tutor had told him and his follow students that they had now reached the point in their training at which they could perform such a feat. Being physically able to deliver a blow that will kill is one thing, but getting the intended victim to hold still while you line up your punch is quite another.

This student decided to put his newfound skills to the test, and one night stole into the Melbourne Zoo. How best to test his lethal skills? On a lion, of course – what else? So he went into the lions’ enclosure and tried to take on one of its dangerous occupants. Unfortunately he didn’t get to land a single blow, because the lion – totally unaware of the newly acquired lethal punching power of the intruder – attacked him first. The next day, . . . well you can guess the outcome.
(From The World’s Stupidest Deaths by Andrew John and Stephen Blake)

Can You Provide References?

We would be happy to do so. First, however, we recommend that you read through the testimonials that have been provided by those who have adopted our kittens. You will find the link on the home page of our site within the menu items on the left side of the page. Look for the "Testimonials" menu item.

How much for a kitten as a pet?

Our kittens are evaluated and priced according to the individual merits of each specific cat. Prices for pets range from $800 to $1,200, with the current average price of $950. This does not include shipment.

The price includes:

• a written contract
• a written health guarantee
• necessary inoculations to date
• 5 generation pedigree
• health/vet record
• TICA registration papers
• And, of Course, you get Bill & Cathy as advisors and friends forever

How do we get our kitten from you?

We welcome and encourage you to visit us here in Dothan, Alabama. Although we prefer that you meet your kitten before adopting, we realize that this is not always possible and therefore, we will ship within the United States. The price above does not include shipping which is via air, weather permitting, COD. The airline charges about $177.

We keep the kittens until they are 12 weeks old. You can secure a place on the preferred list for a $100 deposit (non-refundable, but applies to purchase price).

Oh, yes. You can find the following information on our website:
About Us (Bill & Cathy)

• About Bengals
• Testimonials from owners
• Why we keep our kittens for 12 Weeks
• How to Buy a Bagheera Bengal Kitten
• Our Contract, Terms & Conditions, & Health Guarantee
• About our Price
• Shipping

What is a Bengal like?

It is astounding how the stunning wild beauty of the Bengal cat will just take your breath away, but it is their amazing intelligence and delightful personality that will steal your heart forevermore! Generally speaking, Bengal cats and kittens are active, energetic, intelligent, self assured, outgoing, friendly, affectionate and make wonderful household pets and great companions that interact well with children and other pets. These cats:

• look 'wildly' exotic, but are domestic in their habits.
• they eat any good quality cat food.
• have good litter box habits.
• receive the same vaccinations as any other domestic cat.
• they are devoted, loving, and people oriented.

What is a Bengal?

The name "Bengal" conjures images of the man-eating tigers of India, and while few Bengal breed cats have been known to eat anyone, they do have a definite look about them that suggests their wild forebears. This breed sports leopard-like spots that supposedly are engendered by actual wildcat ancestors. But the wildness is only coat-deep... underneath is a playful, trustworthy pet.