Health issues? Turkish Angora and Bengal

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Hi. Two months on after losing out beloved moggie to cardiomyopathy, we're thinking about getting a new cat and considering - for the first time - an interesting pedigree breed for a pet (not for showing or breeding).

We have reputable breeders near us for Turkish Angoras (which are not yet acknowledged here in the UK, although they're registered internationally) and for Bengal cats. I like both these breeds and am trying to get a sense of their temperaments and also for any health issues that might make us more likely to choose one breed over the other. Any opinions out there?

[Traci]

The health questions are best addressed to your vet, since he/she probably has experience in treating both breeds. If you go this route, however, I'd be prepared to devoting tons of time and energy to either breed.

If you do decide on a specific breed, don't put all of your trust in the breeder....your newly adopted should always be thoroughly examined, tested for FELV/FIV, vaccinated accordingly, nutrition discussed, etc by your own primary vet. If the breeder says they have health records, etc, get them, and confer with the breeder's vet.

Personally, why not adopt a cat (or two, for companionship) needing a loving home from a shelter?

[slvrwhispr]

Ditto Traci. I'm sure it would be charming to have cats from a breeder. But when it really comes down to it, the only difference between those cats and cats from a shelter is a piece of paper. Again, only personally, I'd feel much better about adopting a cat from a shelter that desperately needs a home. There are so many of them, and so few loving homes...

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This the first time in my life I'm thinking about NOT adopting a cat from a shelter. Every other cat I've ever had has been from this route. There are a couple of considerations that are making us consider a breeder:

1. According to our vet, the pool of moggies in this area has been interbreeding and spreading things like cardiomyopathy. The old wisdom that a moggy has a larger, healthier gene pool isn't always true.

2. The "indoor only" policy that we believe in (and that you wisely advocate on your site) is not so popular here. The local RSPCA and Cats Protection leagues are reluctant to let us adopt a cat if we say we intend to keep it indoors only. However, the breeders are in favour of indoors only.

BTW: We're not necessarily looking for a kitten. A young adult is fine as well, so a rescue or retired breeder might be an option.

[Traci]

1. According to our vet, the pool of moggies in this area has been interbreeding and spreading things like cardiomyopathy. The old wisdom that a moggy has a larger, healthier gene pool isn't always true.

Can you provide evidence for this? Link to literature?

2. The "indoor only" policy that we believe in (and that you wisely advocate on your site) is not so popular here. The local RSPCA and Cats Protection leagues are reluctant to let us adopt a cat if we say we intend to keep it indoors only. However, the breeders are in favour of indoors only.

I'll never understand that idiotic notion of those silly brits. (sorry, not personal). Despite their anthropomorphizing and lack of judgement and education, indoor cats are happier and healthier and have a longer lifespan. However, any humane shelter organization who refuses adoptions because an owner chooses to keep their pets indoors, does NOT deserve the support/funding of the community. Having said that, however, what right do they have, I'm having a hard time believing they can legally refuse adoptions and claim that as a requirement. Have you seen an actual adoption registration form that specifically states refusal of adoption if you choose to keep the cat indoors?

If this is truly the case, then perhaps choose a rescue organization or another shelter.

I'd personally rather see people adopt through shelters, since there are so many homeless animals. Breeders, in my opinion, are only adding to the problem.

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I'm afraid I can't point to evidence about the strays interbreeding -- just the experience of the vet who's been involved with the colonies of feral cats around our region. These are the ones producing most of the kittens that end up needing homes (after being rounded up by the RSPCA). There seems to be a very high incidence of the same disease my cats died from, and I really want to try to avoid going through that again.

The cat protection organisations here come out to inspect your house before they put you in touch with the people "fostering" the cats (there are very few places that collect them in one place). I live in a very rural area, where there's a "barn cat" mentality. It may be different in the cities. We could of course lie about keeping a cat indoors, but I do like to be an advocate for the practice. I'm waiting to hear from one of the organisations and will decide what to do based on their attitude.

Shout at the Brits to your heart's content -- I live here, but I'm originally American!

[Traci]

Well, in that case ...

Cardiomyopathies occur in select breeds as well, so I don't think it's fair for your vet to assume strays and ferals are the large majority. Several other factors to consider as well, such as heriditary, poor nutrition during growth and young adulthood, insufficient veterinary care and early detection, etc.

The problems are not so much the ferals interbreeding, it is the humans who don't act to manage feral colonies properly, TNR, vaccinate, etc etc. And of course, any substantial "organization" that claims to care for pets yet advocate outdoors for cats is adding to the problem.

I actually think home-visits to a potential adoptor are a good idea, but if a welfare organization ever suggested straight out or "required" the cat is outdoors as a basis for adoption, I'd take my business elsewhere. But not before I sternly "educated" the uneducated.