About Bengal Cats

A few weeks ago a friend who volunteers at one of the areas animal shelters calls me and says that a family surrendered two Bengal pure breed cats to the shelter and if she does not find a foster for them that they will be euthanized. I told her if she could not find any other fosters that I would care for them while she looked for a forever home. Well that is how I got Larry and Frankie. Cute as they can be Bengal cats that love to play and go for a walk around the block on a leash.

Bengal cats hiding in the garden

The do not care for my cats so we did shop at Petsmart.com for feliway comfort zone diffusers for the electrical outlet. It is exactly what we needed because it took the “new cat” stress out of the room. So we have had the cats for ten days and all is well. Then our air conditioner broke and parts were needed so we were spending more time on the screened porch.



Inquisitive franking and Larry found a little rip in the screen and decided they would rip it more. Who knows maybe they had the other cats hole them also. All I know is the Bengals leaped a good six feet to the garden bellow and then took to the woods.



Yes they got out, I suspect the change in the household made them feel anxious and they just wanted to get away for awhile. The only problem was it was night and the coyote forage at night and these Bengals are definitely housecats.

Catching cats that are fosters, will they come back or will they try to go to their former home?

So both my husband and I grab flashlights and take to the woods. Bengal cats do not meow instead they make like a barking sound. I would call their name and I would hear them in the distance sounded like they were 4 houses away. They were chattering (not meowing) or screaming and then they were quiet.  We thought something happened to them, then we would hear them again. 

After forty minutes husband gave up. But I did not I sat on the furthest patio closest to the woods and called out to the cats every few minutes.

Here is a video where you can hear what Bengal cats sound like.  

It took me two hours to catch them. The cats came home out of exhaustion, they were panting and they were over heated, tongue was red and hanging out of their mouths. I suspect something may have chased them, a mother raccoon protecting her territory, a feral cat, coyote or fox? All I know is the woods was not a fun place for these fostered Bengal cats.

Foster Cats When Disaster Strikes

When a natural disaster; tornado, flood, fire or hurricane strikes your community many cats will be homeless.  It is up to you to lend a hand to your community and to your friends to foster the cats.

Many homeless people will go to the red cross shelters however they will not take in pets. The homeowners will turn to the surrounding areas kennels, however they may be full to their capacity. Cat owners may walk the streets with their cats in their carrier, they had no home, they needed to find a shelter for themselves and their cats. 

Whenever there is a serious disaster the ASPCA and the humane society may set up a shelter for the animals that are victims of the natural disaster, the pets are in kennels and are awaiting their masters return.  While this situation is helpful, what happens to the cat that has anxiety or stress, this cat in my opinion would do better in foster care. It would better for the cat to lie on a sofa or to cuddle next to a person than to be kept in a crate. 

Last summer a tornado touched down in a city close to my home and left thousands of people homeless. Three of my homeless friends asked me to please foster their beloved cats, I did not hesitate and I said yes. My friends call me daily and I tell them about their cats.  I know they are glad that I am watching their cats and giving them personal care.

If you love cats then you should volunteer your services to foster a cat by contacting your area Humane Society. You can also inquire at your church to see if anyone needs temporary care for their cat.  Communicate with your neighbors and your friends that your foster care services are available and maybe there will be someone in your community that will need special home care for their cat.

When disaster strikes your city, your town, or your neighborhood the community must look out for the cats that are in need of care.  Say yes to foster care, help your friends and your community by providing personal and loving care to the cats that are separated from their owners during a disaster.