Risk of cat getting stolen?

[FedoraTheExplora]

When we move, I really want to get a kitten/ cat. My hearts set on a Bengal, but my best friend said to me that unless it was an indoor cat, it would probably get stolen. Is this true?

I don't think I would like it to be an indoor cat - in my head this seems cruel, though I am happy to be corrected by someone more knowledgable than me. Probably a really silly question, but you can't get a microchip that's GPS trackable can you?

I don't live in a really rough area - but probably on the poor side of average. Am I better to just get a ginger tabby? I just think the leopard print bengals are so stunning, but of course it's not the most important thing, and I will love him as the 4th member of the family he will be, no matter what he looks like before I get flamed. But I would so love a Bengal, but couldn't think of much worse than DDs first pet to get stolen (and ours too)

Maybe I've just been lucky but I just haven't had any of the negative traits mentioned in this thread. My gorgeous older boy is now nearly 6 and is the friendliest cat ever! He adores our dog, gets on with the kitten, and is happiest curled up on DD's lap. After looking for a rescue cat initially but being told by the RSPCA that they wouldn't re-home any cat with young DC, I then researched and fell in love with the Bengal because of their sociable nature and friendly temperament. Having just said goodbye to a feisty old tortoiseshell (a rescue), my then 5 year old DD just wanted 'a kitten she could stroke'. She's got that and more with our 2 Bengals.

She bit the Vicars cat? That's surely a black mark against you now.

This morning mine was attacking next doors cat through next doors cat flap. When he came back he spotted another cat outside so went off growling to sort it out. I went to work.

We have 2 bengals, mother and son. The breeder made us sign to say we would keep them indoors. We'd only ever had indoor/outdoor moggies before but where we live now a neighbour has lost several cats to the road outside our house.

I wouldn't say our bengals were much different to any other cats. They like to be up high and really don't like being picked up but otherwise they sleep for much of the time and have a mad few minutes a couple of times a day where they chase eachother and fight.

We were warned they weren't lap cats, but like any cat they will come and sit on us (whether we like it or not) when the fancy takes them, and bash their heads into our hands demanding to be stroked.

I will add too that we got them when our elderly cat had to be PTS, having visited 4 different rescue centres with no luck. We didn't want kittens, and that was all they had.

Somebody upthread mentioned possibly getting a Bengal cross? I have one of those - mother Bengal, father unknown - tabby on top, though with a very Bengal underside.

He's beautiful & has some very Bengal characteristics - vocal, physical, climby, strong sense of smell (I have to put stuff away I never had to bother with before), very affectionate - likes a cuddle, but only on his terms. Can be a bit strenuous with my other cats but they get along ok generally. Bags of personality & very smart.

He likes to go out (& after nearly 4 years of cat ownership he brought me my first ever dead creature this week ) but spends a lot more time inside. He looks like a fairly standard tabby so from that pov is pretty safe going out.

Will post a pic in a bit

This is him. Bird-spotting in first pic. Displaying belly & massive tail in others. Nothing like my other moggies

Aww all your cats are beautiful! I will do lots more research, though I don't think it's fair to say that just because I care about my future pets appearance, that means I don't truely care about animals I may not be as knowledgable as I need to be before I can sensibly get a pet, but I do care and I do have a lot of love to give. Just because I want to pick one that I find really cute doesn't diminish from that, or mean that I place any less importance on it being the right breed for our home.

After looking for a rescue cat initially but being told by the RSPCA that they wouldn't re-home any cat with young DC,

Yes, this is what I've heard too..

Grundy. he's got the chunky back legs too

I foster for a cat charity. I'm also used to Siamese from my childhood, but we also had a farm so the number of feral cats and kittens I had access to was innumerable. I can't offer a permanent home to a feline friend, however my current rental allows us to have a cat so as I said above, we foster.

In my mind, our permanent cat would have always be a Siamese. However, since opening our home to multiple rescues in need of a home, their personality differences have been stark - we will absolutely be rescuing our permanent cat.

I would wholeheartedly advise you to think of what kind of cat you'd like and pick based on personality rather than appearance. My sister recently purchased a beautiful blue/grey Persian cross kitten from a breeder (she'd always wanted a grey) and although the cat is much loved, my sister is very disappointed. The cat is aloof, doesn't much bother with people, and is destructive (because she requires far more stimulation than my sister is used to giving a cat). She has recently asked me to let her know if I foster a cat that would suit her household, as she'd like to adopt a particularly friendly, cuddly cat that will sleep on her bed, and keep her Persian company. She also doesn't care what it looks like (yay!) Personality seems to prove, time and time again, the most important factor, and kittens are notoriously changeable.

I agree, there are lots of rescues that re home to people with children.

Don't you think it's just the luck of the draw what personality a cat has? Breed might play a part but it's often chance? I've had cats since I was 11...first was a stray, un-neutered male, soppy loving boy, used to dress him in clothes! Second, tabby girl, friendly but on her terms, next 2 rescue kittens beautiful friendly lovely boys, could do anything for them and now a pedigree cat who is also lovely (we wanted a house cat). I think we have been lucky...my sisters cat is called The Biter, came as a kitten and that's how he is!
Who knows! Just my rambling thoughts

Yes, total luck of the draw.

Like husbands.

But fair do's Fluffy. You don't pick husbands at 7 years old or whatever!

Fluffy, like the husbands comment!!
Mine have been really good recently, i currently have one 15 yr old male,who apart from being vocal sometimes has ben an absolute pleasure and is very loving on his terms. He also goes out, but only stays around our house and is not massively brave.
My baby on the other hand is adoreable, but is always looking for mischeif and i dont let him out, as he is at the teenage stage!
I go to the same breeder every time and she is a small time hobby breeder, but her cats are always very good with dogs, kids etc as they are brought up in the home and handled alot. They are always very gentle too.

Fluffy yes he has - in some positions he's like a wallaby

Your boy is so beautiful - proper Bengal eyes are amazing, aren't they? I love his paws scrabbling at the window!