BC SPCA calls for regulation after 34 Bengal cats rescued from Vernon breeder
BC SPCA officers seized 34 Bengal cats that were in distress in Vernon and said cases like this are why these types of wild-hybrid cats ought to be regulated.
The cats were rescued from a breeder on May 28 after a veterinarian said they were in distress, according to a press release from the BC SPCA.
“We were alerted to this situation by someone who visited the property. They were considering buying a cat from the breeder and were concerned about the conditions the cats were living in. They contacted the animal helpline and an investigation was initiated,” BC SPCA senior officer Eileen Drever said in the release.
The cats were kept in cages for extended periods and lived in dangerously dirty conditions.
The cleaning and ventilation weren’t sufficient so the amount of ammonia gas was at a dangerous level.
“This is yet another situation where someone is breeding animals in conditions that do not support their physical or mental wellbeing,” Drever said. “The officers who visited the property reported an overwhelming smell of ammonia in the rooms where these cats were housed, so intense their own noses were stinging.”
The cats could use a play area, or a “catio”, on a limited basis but spent most of their time in dirty cages with overflowing litter boxes. The cats were underweight, some had diarrhea and some had skin issues with suspicious hair loss.
All the cats are getting the treatment they need to recover and get ready for adoption.
“Most of the cats are fearful, but they were very brave during their intake exams,” BC SPCA Kelowna manager Shannon Paille said in the release. “We were able to get all the treatments done with light towel wraps and only some of them were growly. Bengals can be quite vocal.”
Bengal cats are wild-hybrid domestic cats. They are a mix of wild Asian leopard cats and domestic cats.
The BC SPCA said these kinds of cats need specialized care which is why it’s opposed to breeding them the same way it opposes breeding exotic pets.
It said Bengals should be regulated under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation of the Wildlife Act.
“Bengals can be very expressive cats,” Paille. “They’re intelligent and energetic, so depending on the individual cat, they may require more stimulation and enrichment than other breeds.”
Although the Bengals rescued in Vernon weren’t getting the kind of care they need, the BC SPCA has them on the right track.
The BC SPCA said it doesn’t know when the cats will be ready for adoption.
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