My rescued kitty grew into an exotic looking beauty.

While I understand the attraction of the beautiful exotic breeds, I personally prefer adopting cats that really need homes. If I had more disposable income to spend on cats, I would donate it towards helping more cats find homes. I've never paid for a cat and all my found and shelter adopted cats have been wonderful pets.

...but I don't want a goldfish.

First world problems for sure.

not many exotic cats at the shelter.

It was from one of the original Bengal breeders with the name "Millwood". This is when Bengals first came into the cat shows. You can research and find Joan Millwood was one of the original breeders of Bengals. She no longer is a breeder, but the line continues.

Here is her website: http://www.toygers.org/millwood/


He had the classic Bengal markings, a black "w" on his head, tiger stripes, but his belly was spotted like a cheetah.

It was a male Bengal, and VERY large. If I held his paws up with his feet on the ground, he came up well over my waist. He was the best cat ever, very friendly and loved people. I would take the cat for walks!
He acted like a dog, and funny enough when we would encounter other dogs, the cat would not back down, and would often sniff noses with dogs. Many dogs were intimidated.

My cat was fixed and declawed... that is the way I received him. I wish they didn't do that, but many breeders will charge extra for a non-fixed Begal, like triple.

Amazing animal... everyone who saw my cat would come and pet him. He would purr very loudly. I would take him to my local beach, and he would jump in the water, trying to chase ducks. He would never come close to catching them, and it was funny to see him swimming furiously.

My cat would fetch sticks! Or balls. Loved to play. And when in the kitchen, would jump from the floor to the top of the refrigerator like it was a small leap.

My daughter was 10 months old when I got this cat. He loved our toddler and we never felt like there was any danger, remember he was declawed. My daughter would pull his tail and he would just be tolerant, as if he knew.

But he wasn't docile when it came to other cats. He ruled the neighborhood. Yes, I let the cat go outdoors and roam free. People always told me that someday someone would steal him. He stuck out to anyone. But I couldn't just make him a house cat. He would roam the neighborhood, and all other cats were afraid of him. Even without claws... he would attack other cats... and chase them down and pounce on their backs.

Mice... forget it... he brought home squirrels.

Many states do not allows F1 or F2 anymore. I think they are much more "wild" than a regular Bengal. If you want an exotic cat, go for a Bengal -- and they are as docile as regular house cats.

My vet loved my cat. He was so large, he had never seen a cat so big. And he was skinny, long and lean.

Get a Bengal! If you want a large cat, get a male, they are much larger than the females.

Go to your local shelter. So many to adopt!

I had 3 purebred Maine Coons over the years, all at the Bridge now. Beautiful, affectionate and smart. But the last time we had a "cat vacancy" I looked at rescue sites and found a litter of long-haired "mutts" at a local rescue and thus we got Riley, now almost 3. He could totally pass for a purebred MC except for his size, a bit too small for the breed. He's a sweet and loving boy too.
Spring is kitten season and odds are the rescues will be teeming with kittens soon, surely a few will have some exotic pedigree or look.

has the original furoverlord always been jumpy?

With the number of plain old domestic house cats needing homes, why bother with some "exotic" vanity pet?

Regardless of size, color, markings, fur length, or origins, a cat offers the same basic benefits and drawbacks. Our local shelters and rescues always have way more animals than they can place, and more feral kittens are born every spring, summer, and fall to keep the numbers too high, despite the hard work of trapping, spaying, neutering, socializing, and re-homing that goes on 365 days a year.

My current cat was a feral rescue when her feral mom was killed while still nursing kittens. My previous cats have all been rescued strays or ferals. They have all been wonderful and worthy.