Ryder

February 2019 Update:

Ryder was adopted from our organization in late April 2018. His current owner is very experienced with cats and dogs and when she adopted Ryder, she had high hopes that he would integrate nicely with her other cats. Ryder does extremely well with his Bengal buddies, but after months of trying, it is very apparent that this boy and her older Siamese male just can’t become amicable roommates. Since she has had her Siamese much longer than Ryder, she asked our organization to rehome this very special Bengal boy.

We would like to share his original bio provided by his original foster mom. Her bios are so detailed and exude the love, understanding and care she has for all of her foster cats. Most of the pictures in this bio are current, and some of them are from when he was in foster care.

Original Bio:

This boy with the beautiful aqua green eyes was living outside after his family left him when they moved three months ago. Neighbors watched him and worried about him. A kind woman started feeding him on her porch. He was just a young boy out in the wet and cold of winter. He started sleeping on her porch sometimes, friendly, but at arm’s length. He was a not trusting of humans. No surprise.

He arrived into foster, 2/25/18, looking healthy with a good body weight. He is not a large cat but he is very solid and heavy. Pure muscle. His beautiful coat, with lovely rosettes, is a bit rough, probably from inconsistent nutrition. There is no way to know what his life was like before he was left behind. I am sure he went outside. When folks leave their inside outside kitty behind they often say, “He will be fine; he knows his neighborhood.” Of course it is not so easy for the cat.

He has the attributes of a purebred Bengal kitty with the green eyes, beautiful rosettes, the head and nose shape, ears, and the athletic strong body they are known for. He arrived previously neutered. We got him combo tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV, which outside cats can catch. He was negative for both. He is a very healthy boy.

Right from the start, after a few days of hiding, Rider settled into his foster home better than we expected. He seemed quiet and a little remote, (depressed perhaps?) but he was polite to us. We learned he likes wet foods but does not really like dry. Perhaps he is so smart he trained us quickly.

I think his short life has been hard and uncertain. You can sort of see that in his expression which can be wary and a bit sad. He is not an alpha cat. He is an all-alone young guy without a home and family. Rider is a beautiful cat who has just been trying to survive. He has adapted to life as an inside only kitty but he is still jumps at loud sounds or quick movements. Yesterday he was comfortable with me and loved the petting I gave him, pushing his head hard into my hand in approval. Today with my camera in hand he was quiet and a bit spooked as if to say, “What are you doing?” He was tolerant but not comfortable. Through everything, he is gentle and does not threaten us.

Rider needs a home with family who will offer him love, stability and safety; a place in which to grow and learn. He needs time to unfold into a new life. A year from now I expect he will be a very happy boy. He is not, at this time, a good playmate for younger children. He will chase a feather but I doubt he has had much experience in doing so before now. (You can see him learning as he approaches the feather.) He needs humans who want to create a deep bond with him, who respect his intelligence and are willing to give him a place to grow with them.

His family needs to be willing to vary the wet food brands he eats. He may not want to eat today what he loved yesterday. He is also a cat who would really enjoy a catio or a carefully cat-fenced yard. He enjoys being outside and watching the birds. In his foster home he has a room connected to a catio, 9 feet square, and we see that he loves it.

Some lucky family will have the fun of watching his personality grow into the mature beautiful Bengal he will become. Bengals are very intelligent, athletic, loyal and bonded companions.

He currently eats wet food only and is litterbox perfect.