What are Bengal cats and domestic hybrids?

The Bengal cat breed resulted from cross breeding an Asian Leopard Cat (ALC-Felis bengalensis) with the domestic cat (Felis catus). The first three filial generations (F1 - F3) of these hybrid animals are referred to as the "foundation" generations. A Bengal cat with an ALC parent is called an F1 Bengal, short for first filial. They eat raw meat and will almost never use a litter box once they reach maturity. These hybrids are often prohibited and regulated by state, city and township laws such as in MN, IA, etc. An F1 then bred with a domestic male produces an F2, or second filial. Kittens from an F2 female and another domestic cat are then termed F3. Kittens from a subsequent F3 mating with a domestic are F4s. The F4 and later generations are considered domestic cats but still have many behavioral and health issues due to the hybridization. Breeders market these cats as 'lap leopards' and say they have the look of the wild and personality of the domestic. However, genetics do not work this way. Breeders cannot choose which elements you get of the wild or domestic cat. The Wildcat Sanctuary receives more calls from owners wanting to surrender Bengal domestic cats than all other wildcats and hybrids combined. The most common reason is not using the litter box, especially when housed with other animals. We love the Bengals and hybrids we care for, but we accept the soiling and behavioral problems that most people deem inappropriate pet behavior.

Other common hybrid cats that are being surrendered at an alarming rate are:

• Savannah (Serval x Domestic Cat)
• Chausie (Jungle cat x Domestic Cat)

Hybrids whether early generation or domestic often have the following common health issues which can be expensive and leave the owner feeling helpless:

• Painful irritable bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic diarrhea
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Tri-Trichamonas Foetus
• Luxating patella
• Often high corona titers and the only known test for FIP - Feline Infectious Peritonitis (but not always reliable)
• Gingivitis and mouth lesions (most common in Chausie's)

Our Bengals and hybrids at the Sanctuary accumulate our highest veterinary costs because of these common health issues. They also take the most time for our keepers due to the clean-up of their indoor areas due to spraying and soiling.

The Wildcat Sanctuary is against hybridization but we understand that Bengal domestic cats are legal in most states and many are displaced and in need of a home. We recommend any prospective owner adopt from a rescue group as well as research breed information from sanctuaries and many other resources versus just breeder sites. Adopting a Bengal from a rescue group will be valuable since the social and litter box behaviors have already been assessed. If you choose to bring a Bengal cat into your family, you must be committed to the breed and the behavior of the breed. Even the small handful of Bengals that don't have litter box issues are active, vocal, love to play in water and mischievous. They take a unique owner that is willing to provide a lifetime of care to an animal that will run the household. TWS does not agree with any purchase or adoption of hybrid generations (F1-F3s) given the wild nature, behavior and health issues associated with these cats.

Domestication happens over 4,000 years versus a few generations with hybrids. Wildcats are solitary by nature except for the African lion. At maturity, they lose all alliance to their wild parents in order to survive. They will even challenge parents and siblings for territory and dominance. This also happens in captivity where once the wild or hybrid cat reaches maturity it will 'turn' on its owner or other animals it lives with. It will want to mark territory by spraying and urinating, even if it is neutered or spayed.

Please read some of the requests we hear from people regarding Savannahs, Bengals and other hybrids:

Domestic Bengal Urinating

• I just discovered your site after it was listed by Dr. Michael Fox in the Star Tribune. I got a bengal kitten at 10 weeks old. She was the MOST LOVING cat and I adored her. She had alot of "quirks" like the water thing, having to be around us all the time, and some load vocals. Nothing that seemed too out of the ordinary. And she did use the litter box religiously. We did adopt a stray cat and they enjoyed each others company and played together alot. When our bengal was almost 6 years old, she attacked me for no reason at all. A couple of weeks earlier she smelled dog on me and had an aggresive reaction, but nothing like this time. (She has been around dogs before, so this made no sense at all) She was like she was out for the kill and latched on to my leg with her claws. Not once, but twice. I had a hard time getting away from her. Luckily I had jeans on but my leg was "shredded". I had to lock myself in a room to get away from her while my husband put her in a separate room.

It was a tough decision but we had to put her down. I couldn't believe that I was so afraid of the very cat that I loved so much and loved me. I also couldn't take the chance of her attacking someone else or killing our other cat. Something triggered the wild in her and she went bisserk. I know she didn't mean to do it, poor thing.

I wish there had been more information about these hybrid cats before I went thru this terrible heartbreak. The more research I do, the more I know that this breeding needs to stop. Somehow the word needs to get out about this insane practice, just to make a bunch of money. It's not fair to the cats and not fair to the owners who have to go thru the sorrow that I did. I still miss her so very much.

Kathie
Minnesota

• We just had a beautiful Bengal, Jasmine 3 years old, surrendered because of trouble with the cat urinating on counter tops and on the owner's bed. This was the second house she'd been in a fairly short amount of time. Because of the urination problem, she's not going to be adoptable through us.

Kristin

• My sister sent me the article about hybrid cats from the Star Trib. Very interesting. I adopted a cat Nala from Bengal rescue/pet finder 1 year ago. She has not adjusted to our family. She is consistently peeing on my brand new couch. We are not allowed to touch, pet or go near her. I have contacted several vets regarding the peeing and the advice has not helped. I did buy another Bengal cat thinking this might help her. Well she did come out of her shell and is acting/playing like a cat, but the peeing continues. It has taken me a year and to realize I don't think her actions will change. Having a house smell like pee is not what I want.

Mary

• I am desperately searching for a way to send a cat out to a Bengal or Big Cat rescue. He is an 8 yr old Bengal (I have pedigree papers if necessary) and hasn't had the best of luck in his life. Vinney had some issues house soiling in their new home, he seems to pace the same room and urinate around the perimeter, and he has also defecated occasionally outside of the box. Unfortunately, due to Vinney's behavior he is not deemed "adoptable" at our shelter and a rescue is my last option. His family had the best of intentions and he is a great cat, he just needs a little extra work, and some people who "get him".

J

I am writing in hopes of finding a solution to an improper urination problem I have been having with a two year old male Bengal. We have had him since he was 3 months old. His name is Ace. For the past 7+ months, he has been peeing on our carpet in our downstairs. I have tried confinement, cleaning and covering the areas, and putting out more litter boxes (which I clean daily and completely replace the litter once a week). I have 5 litter boxes for 3 cats. Ace does not pee in any of them. He does not have a medical problem. He is not spraying. He pees twice a day in large amounts. He poops in the litter box, but then pees on the carpet. He appears to have no remorse or concern that he is doing something wrong--he actually has purred and rubbed up against me when I am cleaning up his mess! I have twin boys, and Ace does not engage in play with them. He follows me around purring and rubs up against me, but hates being held or snuggled. He generally sleeps at the end of someone's bed at night. He is pretty laid back as long as we do not try to pick him up.

I read the article about The Wildcat Sanctuary in the paper a couple of weeks ago. I have attempted to find a home for Ace, but no one wants to take the chance with urination problems. I need to find a home for him. I have spent countless hours-not to mention hundreds of dollars cleaning up after him. This is not a small pee problem. Our carpet needs to be replaced because he keeps peeing on it and I cannot get all the way down to the pad and cement to remove all the uric acid crystals.

It breaks my heart to write to you. Ace is part of our family but I cannot continue with his behavior. I know you hear this type of thing all the time. I have tried to make things work and modify his behavior, but he reverts back to the carpet. This morning my husband caught him peeing on the carpet in another area that he previously had not peed-that we knew of...

Cindy

Savannahs

• This is a gorgeous F2 Savannah and she is about 1.5 years old. Her original owners decided that they no longer wanted her, and a friend of theirs took her in and contacted me. Asia has an issue with using a litter box - she does not like to use a litter box if another cat had used it, and she likes big litter boxes only. She was initially very hissy and growly at the new place, but 6 weeks later was allowing pets and belly rubs. She loves being outdoors and would love to have access to an outdoor enclosure.

• Hello, I know of an F1 female, she's gorgeous but she was NEVER socialized and spent most of her life (I think she's 7 or 8 years old) in a pen having kittens. She's been spayed and someone was trying to make her a pet but she is not working out from what I hear and pretty much needs to live in a pen. So she may be coming into rescue. Crappy how that happens to a cat that really has done nothing but produce lovely kittens for someone.

• I need some advice about an F1 and an F2 Savannah. I got both yesterday from someone who had these two and wanted to get rid of them because they spray in the house. This owner told me that both are really sweet cats, even lap cats and very socialized. I took them in and now we face some challenges with these boys.

The F1 is 14 months old, neutered and front paws declawed. He is very, very aggressive and I cannot approach him in any way. He is in a kennel and he attacks the wire, the wood just every thing he can get his teeth in. He smacks really hard the wire also with his front legs and when I open the door from that kennel he jumps right at me to attack me. I use a shield (cardboard) to protect myself when I want to give him new food or water. Everything flies around in his kennel when I just enter the room.

Is this a normal behavior for an F1 when they are re-homed? What is best way to approach him? His kennel is a mess already and I really want to clean it up or change bowls in there what is almost impossible with this guy. I am pretty sure when I don't shield myself his big fangs will go right into my hand, what I want to prevent for sure.

The F2 is 3 years, neutered and front paw declawed. He is a bit calmer but hisses at me really bad also and he loves to show his big fangs. I can take his bowls out of the kennel without being attacked. He hears the F1 hissing and growling at me and he starts really bad then also. I separated them in different kennels but the kennels are on top of each other. Right now I will not have another room available for them because I have kittens in different rooms. Also I don't know if this is the best way to keep them separated. I am just afraid when I would put them together they will feel much stronger towards me with all consequences of that.

Any help, advice on how I can approach these boys will be really appreciated. I truly hope that these two will snap out of it and believe strong that they feel abandoned now and homeless, very confused and lonely, lost without their family they know. I want to do anything in my power to help these boys.

What if I need to surrender a Bengal or hybrid cat?

The Wildcat Sanctuary is a sanctuary for wild and hybrid cats. Due to the overwhelming number of calls we receive, we can no longer accommodate domestic Bengals. Only F1-F3 foundation cats will be considered for permanent sanctuary. This is because domestic shelters will not accept hybrids into their programs and most wildcat sanctuaries do not accept hybrids either. This leaves little alternative for the cat. If you plan on contacting TWS regarding surrendering a cat, please review the following information. All requests will be considered on a case by case basis.

• Owner will pay for transport costs to TWS
• Health certificate within 10 days of transport is needed
• The cat must be spayed/neutered at the cost of the owner
• Blood profile including a corona titer must be performed
• Surrender form must be completed and signed
• Annual sponsorship or intake fee may be requested

What other options do I have?

When TWS takes in rescues, the animal's behavior and habits do not change. If the cat urinated in your house, he/she will continue to do so at TWS. The difference is we are committed to providing life time care for the animal and adjust the environment around them. If you have purchased a Bengal or hybrid cat and own it legally, you should do the same. The best thing is for you to provide a fully-enclosed, outdoor area with access to a heated den like a garage or insulated shed. Yes, this may cost a few thousand dollars, but it is amazing that owners pay upwards of $4,000-$8,000 for these cats but won't put that into the cost of caring for the animal nor provide the same amount of funding for a sanctuary to care for the cat. Euthanasia should not be an option for a behavior that is common to the breed and easily researched. For example take the Siberian husky, when a person adopts a Siberian husky they shouldn't be surprised that the dog barks, jumps fences, digs and runs away off leash when this is typical breed behavior. There are exceptions to the rule, but anyone adopting this breed should expect and be prepared for the typical behavior. Other hybrid owners have tried to resell the cat to recoup costs. Buyers should beware that if someone is trying to sell a cat, it is probably not wanted due to soiling or behavioral problems that they are not disclosing. This only means the problems will get worse with you.

Remember, that there are millions of wonderful domestic dogs and cats in shelters that are waiting to become a life long companion to you. You can save a life by adopting one of these. You will be much happier that you kept the wild in your heart not your home because the idea of owning a wildcat or hybrid is much more glamorous than the reality.