Davis, CA - Bengal. Meet Nessie a Pet for Adoption

My basic info

Breed

Bengal

Color

Spotted Tabby/Leopard Spotted

Age

Adult

Sex

Female

Pet ID

–

Hair Length

short

My details

Shots current

Spayed / Neutered

Has special needs

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

NESSIE
4 - 5 year old, Female, Silver Spotted Bengal

This is an extraordinarily beautiful cat. No question about that. What on earth is she doing in rescue?

Nessie was a breeder’s queen and gave birth, I am told, to two litters. Then the breeder realized Nessie’s vision was changing and she spayed her and put her on Craig’s List. She was sold to a gentleman who, after having her three years, just surrendered her to Purebreds Plus. This man loved her, his first cat, so much. Recently, he had to acknowledge to himself that he is in the very end stage of his illness. Destitute and without family, he knew he had to get her to safety so he contacted us. When asked about her vision, he said he had never had the finances to take her to the vet.

We wanted to check out her vision right away. Could we help her? Quick quick quick. So she went to an animal opthalmologist immediately. We learned from that vet that, fortunately, she is in no pain or distress and that, unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing that can be done to help her. She has a genetic mutation which is passed through some Bengal bloodlines that causes retinal degeneration, called PDA. The cats carrying this gene lose most, and for some, all of their vision fairly early in life.There is a DNA test that can identify this problem.

Right now it is very clear that Nessie has some vision. Her owner does not think that her vision has changed since he got her. So it has certainly not changing quickly, if at all. She can jump from the bed to the bureau. She is very playful and will bat at a wiggling feather. She looks up at you when you enter her room. Despite all this, you can still tell her vision is not normal. Though no one can predict for sure, there is a possibility that at some point she will become entirely blind. Her new family needs to embrace the fact that they are adopting a cat who may become a blind cat. If that doesn’t happen, great!, and if it does, there is no surprise. Blind cats with their excellent hearing and excellent sense of smell do extremely well and lead long, happy lives. I have known several blind cats, and they are remarkable how well they do.

The outstanding thing about Nessie, aside from her sparkling, gorgeous appearance, is how confident and good natured she is. She has lived the last three years essentially in one room with the man who “owned” her. Suddenly, she was brought to a building without him where everything was new and where there were a number of cats nearby. She took this change in stride with no problems at all. We were all surprised. “Look at her," we said. “She is checking everything out and not hiding at all.“ We didn’t expect that.

This is a very nice, affectionate, and good-natured girl. Even with her very limited social experience, she has grown up into a confident and grounded cat. Nessie is great and someone will be very lucky to have her companionship.

We think with the right slow introduction, she will be fine with another gentle cat or dog. We would not pair her with an energetic Bengal or bouncy dog or young children, all of whom may want to roughhouse with her. She needs a quiet, stable, safe home with lots of love and lots of sunny windows. She will be a walking sculpture for her new family.

She eats wet and dry food and is litterbox perfect.

Her foster mom is Harriet in Santa Cruz.

Contact Harriet at (831) 336-2983 or toharrietjane@comcast.net if you have questions, or send an Adoption Application. If you are unable to reach Harriet by phone or email, email us at Info@purebredsplus.org