Reddit user makes 21-hour round trip to adopt charcoal Bengal with feline leukaemia virus

This is the story of Joshua, a Reddit user who spotted a really interesting and beautiful charcoal Bengal cat on the Reddit.com website. We are told that he first learnt about this cat whose name is Ash from a veterinary technician who posted information about Ash and his illness.

You can see why he is called Ash. He has a very dark striped tabby coat and a dark face. This is the charcoal Bengal cat coat. The ground colour can be dark greyish/brownish or carbon coloured. There are Zorro markings with white goggles around the eyes and a dark charcoal mask over the face.

I think it is fantastic and so did Joshua who knew that the cat had the feline leukaemia virus which you can read about below. It is a serious illness but this cat was entirely adoptable particularly as Joshua intended to only have one cat.

Joshua tells us that he has an adventurous spirit and was taken by Ash's very interesting appearance combined with his unfortunate illness. He felt he could do a good job in looking after Ash.

Other Reddit users were also taken by Ash's appearance with 10,000 likes on every post regarding him.

We are told that Ash was found wandering around Dallas and was rescued. It might be the case although we don't know that this is a purebred Bengal cat that perhaps escaped and got lost and became a stray cat and while in that difficult situation he contracted feline leukaemia virus. This can make cats harder to adopt because it's advised that they should be a single cat in a home to protect other cats.

That's why I think Joshua was praised for his altruistic behaviour. Joshua is I believe a college student with some free time and the fastest route from Illinois where he lives to wear Ash was in Texas was an 11-hour journey (presumably by car). 

But he likes impromptu expeditions. I believe that Joshua is a Native American and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Perhaps this is what gives him his adventurous spirit.

He has family spread throughout Oklahoma and Texas so that encouraged him to travel to Texas anyway. And as he's been caring for his mother and as she always wanted a Bengal cat, that too was a big encouragement to adopt Ash. He regards it as a no-brainer.

He made the newspapers which must please him. I'm writing this while reading the Newsweek story. And on this page - below - there is a link to his Reddit feed and also you can see on this page an embedded picture of beautiful Ash.

Below, as mentioned, there some more information about the feline leukaemia virus.

Link to Joshua's Reddit feed: 

joshua (u/redjww) - Reddit

The two faces of Ash’s car ride yesterday.
byu/redjww inSupermodelCats

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a viral infection that affects cats and is one of the most common infectious diseases in felines worldwide. It weakens the immune system, making cats more vulnerable to other infections and certain types of cancer, particularly leukemia. FeLV is transmitted through close contact with infected cats, typically through saliva, blood, urine, or feces. It can also spread from mother cats to their kittens through milk. The virus doesn’t survive long outside a cat’s body, so transmission usually happens through direct contact, such as grooming, sharing food and water dishes, or fighting.

FeLV and its Effects on Cats

FeLV primarily affects the immune system and bone marrow. Cats infected with FeLV are at high risk of developing:

1. Immunosuppression: The virus severely compromises a cat's immune system, making them more susceptible to infections like respiratory, urinary tract, and skin infections.
2. Anemia: FeLV can cause a drop in red blood cells, leading to lethargy, weakness, and pale gums.
3. Cancers: Cats with FeLV are at increased risk of developing lymphoma, a type of cancer that can affect different organs.
4. Reproductive Issues: FeLV-infected queens often have difficulty carrying pregnancies to term, and kittens born to infected mothers frequently die young or are themselves infected.

Symptoms can range from mild (such as fever, weight loss, or enlarged lymph nodes) to severe, depending on the progression of the disease.

Why FeLV-Positive Cats are Less Adoptable

Cats with FeLV face several challenges that can make them less adoptable compared to healthy cats:

1. Shortened Lifespan: FeLV is often fatal, with many infected cats dying within two to three years of diagnosis. Prospective adopters might be hesitant to take on the emotional and financial burden of caring for a cat with a shorter life expectancy.
2. Higher Medical Costs: Cats with FeLV often require more veterinary care to manage secondary infections and complications. This could lead to higher costs, which can be a deterrent for potential adopters.
3. Contagion Risks: FeLV is contagious to other cats, especially through prolonged, close contact. Therefore, many adopters with other cats are reluctant to bring an FeLV-positive cat into their home, fearing it may spread the virus. FeLV-positive cats are usually best kept in a single-cat household or in a home with other FeLV-positive cats.
4. Limited Availability of Shelters or Foster Homes: Not all shelters are equipped to handle FeLV-positive cats due to the need for isolation from FeLV-negative cats. This reduces the chances of FeLV-positive cats finding placement in foster homes or adoption centers.
5. Stigma and Lack of Awareness: Many people do not fully understand FeLV, and misconceptions about the disease may cause fear or hesitation. This stigma can make it harder for FeLV-positive cats to be seen as adoptable.

Caring for FeLV-Positive Cats

While FeLV is serious, some FeLV-positive cats can live relatively healthy lives, especially if they are kept indoors, stress-free, and receive regular veterinary care. Some adopters are willing to give these cats a chance, particularly because FeLV-positive cats can be loving, playful, and rewarding companions, just like any other cat.

There are also FeLV-specific rescue organizations and foster programs that focus on placing these cats in homes, increasing awareness, and reducing stigma.

 P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Nobody wants to adopt a purebred Bengal cat whose been at a rescue center for 12 months

NEWS AND COMMENT - SOUTHAMPTON, UK: This is a very strange situation. A male Bengal cat, a genuine purebred Bengal cat by the way, who is four years old and whose name is Louie, has been at the St Francis Animal Welfare Shelter Fair Oak, Southampton, UK for 12 months because nobody wants to adopt him.

Nobody wants to adopt a purebred Bengal cat whose been at a rescue center for 12 months. This is Louie and it is a mystery why no one wants to adopt him. Image: the rescue center.

As a purebred Bengal cat, a popular cat breed, you would have thought that people would want to adopt him as quickly as possible. It is hard to imagine that a purebred cat can be so unwanted when people buy Bengal cats for £1,500! I am sure that the adoption fee at the shelter is a tiny fraction of that perhaps in the order of £100.

So, what is going on? I have no idea. All I know is that he was a full-time indoor care, in an apartment and is therefore a little nervous which is to be expected. They recommend that he is rehomed into a family where there are no other cats, dogs or children. But that requirement is not particularly exceptional either.

Perhaps people are cautious about adopting a wild cat hybrid because of their reputation as being a bit challenging but Louie looks like 5th generation and he'll be more or less like a regular domestic cat.

If you are interested then please contact the shelter. Their phone number is (023) 8069 3282. The address as per Google Maps is Sunnyside cottage, Mortimers lame, fair Oak, Eastleigh SO50 7EA.

Can you predict an adult cat's personality from their behaviour as a kitten?

This is a question that is sometimes asked. I think you have to apply a bit of common sense. There would seem to be two distinct personality types (a) confident and outgoing and (b) timid, shy and retiring.

2 main character types for cats. Image: MikeB

Cat adopts person

Sometimes people tell us their stories when adopting a cat from a shelter. They say that the cat adopted them. The same applies to dogs.

When a rescue cat at a shelter comes to the potential adopter in any one of many ways, it indicates that they are a little bit more confident than another cat who stays at the back of their cage. The one that holds back is the more reticent retiring one.

You can tell the difference between two different types of cat in terms of confidence levels. This character trait will be with them all their lives. And that's quite important because the degree of confidence compared to the degree of timidity is quite an important factor in how the other aspects of the cat's character develop.

Developing character

For instance, a confident cat is more likely to come forward, interact and to explore and to have new experiences and therefore become more rounded and more able to deal with strange and novel things.

In contrast, the timid cat will enjoy less experiences and even might hide when anything new happens. Both cat types have their advantages in my opinion. 

But the point here is that you can tell how a kitten will develop on these broad-brush aspects of character namely confidence and timidity.

Confident cats are more popular

Most people like confident cats because they interact more. But the advantages of a timid cat are often not discussed. One benefit is that because they are more retiring and content to be less active, they are more likely to enjoy the benefits of being full-time inside the home.

They are less likely to want to go out and explore. They are, therefore, less likely to come to harm. And if they are indoor/outdoor cats they are less likely to wander away far and wide if they lack confidence. Getting lost is less of an issue.

Timid is better

I think a domestic cat which is slightly timid is perhaps a better domestic cat companion than a confident one.

The trend nowadays is to keep cats indoors full-time particularly if you live in an urban environment. You don't want to live with a very boisterous active cat under those circumstances.

Bengal cat

Example, the Bengal cat is known to be pretty active, confident and lively. Some people keep them in apartments full-time. I don't think that can work.

In fact, when I lived in an apartment block a friend of mine in a nearby block was the caregiver of an F3 Bengal cat, Daniel. This cat was climbing up the walls to get out.

And when the owner took Daniel out into the gardens for a walk it was impossible to contain him. If he was off the lead he was gone. The point is that apartment living for the confident boisterous outgoing cat might be too challenging.

But apartment living for a timid retiring cat who likes to hide is a good place to be. There is the advantage.

That argument goes against the general consensus that confident cats are better cats.

Young cats killed on roads

And let's remind ourselves that the cats most likely to be killed on the roads are young, immature and confident male cats. They are the ones who like exploring and taking risks.

What I'd choose

I'd argue that the better cat to live with is a slightly retiring, slightly timid, female. That's what I would choose if I was going to adopt a cat right now. Or even better than that you might adopt a disabled cat like a blind cat because you can then keep them indoors full-time without feeling guilty as you've got to keep them indoors.

Character nuances

As to the finer nuances in character, to go back to the original argument, I think you have to wait to when they become adult to find out what they are. Which, by the way, is one reason for adopting an adult cat over a kitten despite the fact that kittens are the most popular type of cat to adopt from a shelter.

If you adopt an adult cat, you know what you're getting, particularly older ones. When you adopt a kitten, you are adopting a cat companion which you don't know that well.

Hector

There is an interesting story on social media about a woman who adopted a male cat called Hector. When he was a kitten, he was sweet and funny but when he grew up "he became a cat that no one could touch, except me. He was easily overstimulated and would attack one's hand while he was being petted."

So, her male cat went from sweet and funny to too difficult to handle. You don't quite know what you're going to get when you adopt a kitten because you will not be able to really predict their adult character except for the broad-brush aspects as mentioned

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria buy a Bengal cat for daughter Carmen

NEWS AND VIEWS: So what is the big deal about the title to this post? Carmen, the Baldwin's daughter expressed a wish to adopt a cat companion from the age of 2. The trouble with satisfying that perfectly good request is that Alec Baldwin is allergic to cats we are told by his wife Hilaria. So they had a dilemma. Another dilemma that they had is that Hilaria and Alec Baldwin speak up for animal rights and support PETA.

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria by Bengal cat for daughter Carmen. Photo: Twitter.

They probably discussed, quite extensively, adopting a rescue cat from a rescue organisation as this would support PETA and support the idea that if people want a new cat they should always go to a rescue centre first. 

But the cat allergy problem scuppered that objective, they thought. So they decided to buy a Bengal cat from a breeder. Hilaria, we are told, did a lot of research and discovered that the Bengal cat is hypoallergenic meaning that the cat does not produce the allergen, or produces less of the allergen Fel D 1, which is a protein in a domestic cat's saliva which causes the allergic reaction in 10% of the population.

I suspect that the research included a discussion with a cat breeder of Bengal cats and the breeder wanted to promote her cattery so she convinced them that Bengal cats do not contain this allergen. I'm afraid they were misled if that is a true assessment. Bengal cats are not hypoallergenic. No domestic cat is in fact. 

They gave a false reason for buying a Bengal cat rather than adopting a rescue cat, which is that Alec Baldwin is allergic to cats and therefore they were forced to go down the route that they did. Note: they knew that all rescue cats will not be hypoallergenic but they did not realise that all purebred cats are the same notwithstanding what the breeders say.

PETA are annoyed but polite because they emphasised that the Baldwins have always supported them and do good in terms of animal welfare. But they say that they have inadvertently encouraged people to purchase a purebred cat rather than adopt a rescue and possibly save that cat's life from euthanasia at a rescue centre.

Perhaps the point of the story is that the Baldwins could have found a better route to compromise. The research should have thrown up the information that Purina have made a dry cat food which masks or suppresses the feline allergen that I mention above. It is called LiveClear and it is on the shelves at the moment. The reviews are pretty good and it seems to me that it works at least well enough to help control the problem.

And there are other ways to manage having a cat companion if you are allergic to them. Quite a lot of people who love cats are allergic to them but they find a way around the problem. An alternative to what I mentioned might have been to adopt a rescue Bengal cat. There are some unwanted Bengal cats out there at rescue centres and with certain organisations such as Purebred Cat Rescue. Her research should have led her to these sorts of organisations and to the Purina food.

I suspect, therefore, that Carmen expressed a strong desire to adopt a Bengal cat and therefore they could not get around that problem. And perhaps she wanted a kitten as well. Most of the rescue animals at shelters are adults.

Therefore, I have to reluctantly conclude that the Baldwins used a false reason for purchasing a Bengal cat but we don't know the full story behind it. I am speculating. There is one final point in that the higher filial wildcat hybrids are a little bit difficult to live with in my opinion and a lot of people don't prepare themselves for it. Although, I suspect that the kitten in the photograph on this page is probably an F5 Bengal cat. I hope so because if he is he will be very much like a typical domestic cat because the wild cat component is a very small percentage of the cat's DNA.

Bengal cats everything about purchase

The title describes a book for sale on Amazon.



In my humble opinion you don't need to buy a book about buying a Bengal cat or taking care of a Bengal cat. This is because taking care of a Bengal cat is no different to taking care of any other cat and there is a pile of free information on the Internet about that. There is lots of information about that on this site alone!

As to buying a Bengal cat, I would prepare a series of pertinent questions primarily about cat health and telephone three local Bengal cat breeders. I would make them local so that you can visit them. By local I would mean within reasonable driving distance. Judging by the answers I would visit the best one.

• How long have you been in business?
• Are you registered with a cat association?
• Do you have champion cats? (cat show champions)
• What is your policy on cat breeding? Do you breed for health as well as appearance?
• Do you check your cats for HCM? (HCM is a heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that can affect Bengal cats).
• What filial are you buying? SBT cats are 4th generation from the wild - remember that the Bengal cat is a wildcat hybrid. Price follows filial and quality. Quality means the cat follows the cat association breed standard. Prices are in the order of $500 (2011) but will vary depending on quality.
• These are purebred cats aren't they? (some breeders are back street breeders and are not breeding purebred cats). You don't want a Bengal cat mix as these are moggies.

You'll need to visit to inspect the conditions of the cattery. Most are hobby breeders so it will be a person's home as well as a breeding establishment. But does it seem smart and clean? Are there untoward odors?  Are the kittens confident and coming up to you without fear? Do the kittens look healthy? If one doesn't and you ask what is wrong what kind of answer does the cat breeder give? Is it plausible? Brushing off an eye infection with a casual remark is not good enough. Personally I would not proceed if one kitten was ill. If one is ill the others might be ill because many viral diseases are very contagious.

On the phone before visiting I would ask if she can provide a couple of recommendations from other customers. I would go on the Internet to check out the website; is it professional looking and does it work well? Search for complaints posted online. Sometimes there are discussions on forums about certain breeders.

Ask for a copy of the contract of purchase up front in the post so you can study it (it might be online on their website which would be a good sign incidentally). Make sure that all the necessary health checks are carried out by the seller before purchase. These should be in the contract. I would consider having your vet check out the health of the selected cat. A binding contract should be subject to that check. In other words the contract becomes effective provided the cat passes a health check by your vet. That might be a difficult one to get the breeder to agree to but a sick cat can cost you thousands of dollars or pounds over time. This is because you will become instantly attached to your new cat and will want to help. Some illnesses are serious and prolonged and difficult to cure.

The kitten that you select should ideally be confident, bright eyed and not frightened of you. You might find that the kitten selects you. That is what happened to me. Although I wasn't buying a Bengal cat but adopting a unwanted moggie!

HCM Testing at Cat Shows

HCM testing at cat shows is something that I have only recently picked up (I know I am being slow). But it seems to me to be a wonderful idea. You've got a lot of cat breeders all in one place showing their cats with long pauses with nothing much to do in between. And the cost is a very modest $90 (that used to be about £45 in the UK). This is a perfect combination and presents little obstacle to getting the test done, something that may have been put off for various reasons.

A big cat show where this service is being offered is the Thunderkatz Show April 24-25 in Oklahoma City (OKC) , USA. The service, as I understand it, is being run by PetSafe Diagnostics. People can book a slot at the show from their website (the link goes to their website). PetSafe Diagnostics specialize in Veterinary Ultrasound Imaging. HCM is tested through this method. Screenings for the OKC show take place on the 24th April (Friday) after 3 pm and on the next day between 8 am and 4 pm (I think!). They are also attending The Cats Unlimited Store (presume in or near Dallas) on Saturdays April 4th between 8 am and 5 pm.

Although any cat can at least potentially develop HCM, a heart disease found in cats and people (and other animals, I presume) some cat breeds are predisposed to the disease. Two that come instantly to mind are the Bengals and Maine Coons. Some Bengal breeders think there is a need for a more open approach by the breeders to the problem of HCM. What they mean is that all breeding cats and their parents (going up the breeding line) should be tested and the results published. Only in this open and collective manner can the disease be removed from this extremely popular breed of cat. Not all breeders want to follow that route, sadly. I am for it because it benefits the cat.

HCM testing at cat shows greatly facilitates the testing of cats and cat shows are a great forum to discuss these issues too. I think the cat show should also be a place where seminars and talks can be given to discuss these very important issues. This does not happen as far as I know. See HCM in Bengal Cats.



HCM Testing at Cat Shows to Home Page

Photo of cat at Montreal cat show is by appaIoosa and published under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs creative commons License -- this site is for charitable purposes in funding cat rescue.

Bengal cat adoption

Marbled Bengal cats like water - photo copyright Janesdead

Bengal cat adoption concerns many topics...

Who are the parties?

When you adopt a cat there are three parties, the seller or administrator of a rescue center, or pet keeper, on the one hand; the buyer/adopter on the other hand; and the cat. Which is the most important party? - the cat.

How do you make a decision to proceed with Bengal cat adoption on the most fundamental level?

We ask ourselves, "what is right for this cat?" In answering that question we need, I think, to treat the adoption of a cat as something similar to the creation of a child. Extreme, you think? I don't agree. A child becomes independent at about 20+ years. A cat is permanently dependent to about late teens. The demands are not dissimilar. Both need feeding, warmth and love. Both return love in their own ways. There are many other similarities.

I have a page on the main website about choosing a cat which covers this subject from a different angle but in more detail, it's called "Choosing a cat breed".

Anyway, lets assume that we tick all the right boxes and have decided objectively (along the lines as set out in the Choosing a cat breed link above) that a Bengal cat adoption is good for a specific but yet undetermined Bengal cat. What next?

Bengal cat behavior

I have discussed the behavior of Bengal cats quite a lot on other posts. Click on the link to read about Bengal cat behavior. Or go to the main Bengal cats for sale page on the main website. In short the Bengal cat is pretty inquisitive, active and intelligent and will I think demand a fair bit of interaction from you. Can you do this? Is there enough space for this active cat? Will you keep your cat in permanently? Is there enough things to do? Can you build an enclosure? These cats have bling and they stand out, this makes then liable to theft. If you are clear on these issues and want to proceed the next question is.........

Adoption means buying or rescuing

What is it to be? Like for like and all things being equal Bengal cat rescue must be the preferred decision. Personally and this is purely personal, if I was going for a Bengal cat adoption now I'd check out Bengal cat rescue first (this link leads to a comprehensive list).

I think we all have to do that at the outset. And I am not criticising the breeders or saying don't go to the breeders. I'm just saying that if we agree the criterion for decision making on Bengal cat adoption is what is right for the cat then we must start at a rescue center. In addition to the lists of Bengal cat rescue centers and groups set out on the linked page above there is a page on Purebred cat rescue as well. This linked page covers all the angles and lists non-purebred cat rescue centers as well because you can sometimes find purebred cats at these centers or half purebred cats (mixed breed cats that have a lot on the Bengal in them).

So you tried rescue and it's failed to work out.

Bengal cat breeders

You'll need to know the prices, the breeders (this takes you to a list of USA breeders mainly in Texas and Florida - this is a growing list though so things change) and the appearance.

Bengal cat health

Before you go to a breeder I'd check out the results of my research into Bengal cat health. I used to think that Bengal cats were almost universally healthy but this is not the case. I am not saying there is a problem here, just that it is better to be armed with information before buying. This is better for the cat, the breeder and you. Click on the link to read about Bengal cat health.

- The cat always comes first -

One last point, the higher Bengal cat generations (F4-F1) are CITES regulated and subject to travel restrictions.

Photos:

• all photos published under a creative commons license
• Second down copyright Janesdead
• Bottom picture - copyright Swiss Bones - this is typical of Bengal cats as they like to be perched high up. This is a throwback to the Asian Leopard cat who likes to climb trees for safety.

Bengal cat adoption to Bengal cats for sale