Letters from Clients

Cats have intercepted my footsteps at the ankle for so long
that my gait, both at home and on tour,
has been compared to that of a man wading through a low surf.
--Roy Blount, Jr.

March 30, 2010

Hi Jennifer,

I just thought I would drop you a line and update you on Pure Emotion.  In the 3 months we have had her she has insinuated her lovely self into our family quite well!  We named her Tachete (French for "spotted") - but we call her Tasha.

She loves to be scratched and is very vocal about wanting her "kitty-love".  She is very smart and extremely curious (which sometimes gets her into trouble).  She always wants to play and has the loudest purr I've ever heard!  We have also discovered that she loves to play "fetch" with just about anything....here is a short video of her playing.

Thanks again for such a great cat!

Rebecca Benezue

Dawnstar Robo Fire of Katznjamr, aka "Rofie"

July 23, 1996 to January 15, 2010

Jennifer,

I wanted you to know that Robo (Rofie to you) passed away today. He was diagnosed with lymphoma in his small intestine and it was very aggressive. We are devastated. He brought such joy to our lives every single day. Everyone who met him thought he was the coolest, handsomest cat they had ever seen.

We live in Houston now and he adjusted wonderfully. He talked our legs off every day, and we had many interesting conversations. I would always recount the circumstances that brought him to us and it wouldn't have been possible without you.

 I honored Robo on Facebook with "25 Random Things You Didn't Know about Robo" so everyone can get a glimpse of his life with us.  -- Laura Harbour

 

25 Random Things You Didn't Know about Robo

1. His full name was Dawnstar Robofire of Katznjamr.
2. He was a retired stud.
3. I went with a friend who was buying a bengal kitten, and, long story short, the breeder liked me and let me adopt Robo.
4. When I brought him home he immediately crawled into my sweatshirt (which I was wearing) to hide. This behavior was repeated again and again when he was scared, mostly from lightning and thunder.
5. He had a basket of about 50 toys. His favorites were the cheap catnip pillows from PetsMart or anything that crackled or had feathers.
6. Sometimes he would run laps around the house. I guess he needed to be somewhere else real fast.
7. If you talked to me on the phone, you also talked to Robo. He meowed continuously in the background, thinking I was talking to him.
8. Everyone who met Robo thought he was the coolest, handsomest cat they ever saw.
9. Todd's nickname for Robo was 'Turkey.'
10. Our other cat, Farrah, never gave Robo the time of day. To her, he was an obstacle in her quest for world domination. I once saw her running full speed down the hall on three legs after Robo, smacking his behind with her spare paw. True story.
11. He was solid muscle.
12. He loved me to pieces. He would sleep with me, lay in my lap, head butt me, rub his cheeks on me, you name it. But he would never let me pick him up. He would shove one paw in my throat, something Todd called the 'forearm shiver.' Todd could always pick him up.
13. He adjusted to every move we made, even the big one to Houston. As long as we were there, and his stuff, he was cool with it.
14. I would send updates to Robo's original owner (Katznjamr). She sent me pictures from the folks who owned Robo's sire. Robo looked exactly like him.
15. We had to cancel our tradition of letting the cats sleep with us because Robo was such a talker. He would wake us up every night.
16. Robo never met a box he didn't like. Anytime a package came, I would put the box on the floor for a couple of days so he could hang out.
17. Robo went through Hurricane Ike (with Farrah and Todd).
18. He loved it when I put up the Christmas tree. It stands on a skirted platform and he would sleep under it every day.
19. Bengals are known as the 'canines' of the cat community. Robo was no exception. He loved to lay at our feet.
20. Anytime Todd and I stood close together talking, Robo would get right between us to participate. He loved 'family' time.
21. He never scratched the furniture. He adored his scratching posts.
22. As I've alluded to, Robo talked a lot. Our favorite sound was was a kind of half purr, half meow. It meant he was very happy at that moment.
23. He loved looking out the window. If a bird or squirrel wandered by, more the better.
24. He was a Leo. His birthday was July 23, 1996.
25. Robo died today. It's not fair and we're devastated. But we are so much better for knowing him.

Champion Katznjamr's Chilukki
2008

Ten year old Chilukki lives in South Africa with Dr. Wally Fogarty.
Chilukki is our dear boy Bakari's first son!

Jennifer,

Putty was born 11-6-1998 to Dawnstar Robo fire and Dawnstar Radio Flyer.

When he was ready to 'fly' the nest 'literally,' we flew him via United Airlines to Grand Junction, Colorado and he has not stopped.

He has flown as far away as Alabama, Chicago and Atlanta. We take him everywhere - Yellowstone, San Juan Islands, Mount St. Helens, Florida.

He has seen wolves to whales and has loved every minute of it.

He was leash trained at a young age and I still get a tickle when people stop me and ask, "Can you do that? Walk a cat on a leash like that?" I have to refrain from saying, "No, here's your sign." - Ha!

He was a kitten to keep me company while my daughter went away to College. He has seen her graduate. He went to her wedding. He witnessed the birth of each of my two Grandchildren. I cannot tell you the joy this cat has brought to my life. I hope we have honored him with lots of love and pampering.

I cannot believe that he will be 11 in November. 

He now lives in Durango, Colorado and runs to the front door when I have leash in hand. He doesn't care too much for the snow, but loves the river and the train!

He'll be traveling the Coast of Oregon and Wine Country this year. I love all the photos people send in.

These are photos of an 11 year romance!

My Grandkids absolutely adore him!

Putty? Well? He adores them as well! After all, he has someone to play chase with and fetch and hide-n-go seek!

Best wishes,

Donna Meadors :)
2009
 

November 2009

Here are a few pictures of Max and Toby. I'm not sure if it's a better ad for Boxers getting along with cats or Bengals getting along with dogs.

Which ever it is, Max loves Toby.

Loves water. Gets in the shower daily.

Mitch

 

 

August 8, 2009

Hi Ms. M,

My new Mom said I should write and give you an update about my new family.

My new Mom and I took a rode trip to a really big city she calls Houston. It took a long time to get there, but we made it just fine. At first I really missed my brothers and I cried and cried and cried. Mom kept talking and singing to me until I settled down and went to sleep. We got to my new home she carried me inside to her big bathroom and unpacked the new toys she bought for me. I was a little scared at first, but then I started exploring - there were lots and lots of new things to look at!

My new Mom sat with me and talked to me for a long time. I love her voice. She brought me some food and water and I ate really good for her. That made her very happy. Then, my new Dad got home and the two of them sat on the edge of their sunken tub to pet and talk to me. They are really, really nice.

My new Mom let me explore the bathroom and their bedroom. I found a cool red chair that's low enough for me to climb on. I climbed into the chair and up to the back and sat there surveying my new home. That chair is fun, especially when I chase imaginary things on the chair seat, jump off, jump back on . . . off, on, off, on, off, on . . . over and over again. Ms. M, I'd make you laugh!

I fell asleep in that red chair the first night and everything seemed fine so my new Mom let me sleep there. I woke up in the middle of the night and didn't know where I was. So I got scared and started to cry. Then, I heard my new Dad's voice telling me everything was OK. They turned the light on and when I saw them, I realized where I was and went right back to sleep!

I woke up on Friday and waited until my new Dad got out of the shower. Then, I attacked the grey bath mat. I jumped on that mat and couldn't let go. Then, I rolled and rolled and rolled - fighting that mat the entire way! I am one ferocious little kitty! My new Dad said I looked like a cannoli rolled up in that mat. I'm not really sure what that means, but they thought it was funny. My new Mom brought me breakfast - yummie!! I ate all the canned / raw food she gave me. I also enjoyed eating some kibble in between bits of the mushy food. I used my new litterbox and thought it was a little weird that my new Mom was so happy about that too!

My Mom bought me a brand new scratching post that has a ball attached to the top. I stalk it, Ms. M and then I jump like a little leopard. I'm a wild man when it comes to that post! I can bat that ball around for hours. It is so much fun. I also like playing with the new balls and other toys she bought for me.

I was really glad to see my Mom when she got home from work yesterday. She is being so nice to me that I'm starting to let her pick me up and cuddle (I like it too) - I purr and purr and purr. I really have to figure out this purring thing, though . . . my Mom says that when I purr, my entire body moves.

Last night, my Mom and Dad sat in bed reading and let me explore their bedroom again. Did I tell you how much I love that red chair . . . up and down, up and down. My Mom and Dad called to me and they were so surprised when I figured out how to get up on their bed . . . it is really, really high! My Mom had given me a fuzzy yellow ball to play with, so I carried the ball with me up on the bed and it was so much fun to go up and down, up and down off their bed - over and over again. Then, I saw the ceiling fan and watched it go round and round and round. Wow, if I were only that tall! It seems that these big people get sleepy before I do, but I am trying to be a good little boy. When it was time to cut off the lights, I wanted to stay on their bed. I curled up next to my new Mom and slept by her all night long. She's really cuddly. That's where Dad found me this morning.

I miss you, my brothers and my folks, but I really like my new home. My new Mom and Dad are taking pictures and they'll keep you posted. They can't believe how smart I am. I am trying not to show off, but it's hard. Well, it's time for my nap - bye for now.

Love,

Bakari's Little Boy
(Jeff & Christine Hollinden)

 

August 22, 2009

Hi Ms. M,

I thought I'd send you an update.

I just love my new home. My new Dad and I have a morning routine. We get up early - just the guys. I help my Dad read the newspaper while he drinks his coffee. My Dad says it's a bit difficult for him to eat cereal though when when I keep trying to stick my head in the bowl. I just can't help myself -the cereal smells really good!

My new Mom is really cool. She plays with me all the time (as does my new Dad). They bought me all kinds of new toys. My new Mom is really cuddly, too. I just love to curl up and sleep next to her every night. (I think she loves it too!)

I'm learning a lot of new things. I can jump really high and far. And, I can run very, very fast. I love to run down the hallway as fast as I can. Sometimes I slide around the corners - that is a blast - and that makes my new parents laugh. They just can't believe how fast I am.

I surprised my Mom the other morning. She put out a bigger water bowl for me and I was excited. I didn't realize I was supposed to drink the water, I thought it was a new toy. I stepped in the bowl and splashed in the water. It was fun. My Mom took a picture (attached).

I've been playing hard all morning, so it's time for a little nap. Tell my Mom and Dad I said hello. I think of you often, but I'm so very happy here.

Lotsa love,

Peppercorn (Bakari's little boy)

September 17, 2009

Hi Jennifer,

Thought you might like to see my big boy. He got his rabies shot today and now weighs 5.03 lbs!!

I brought him to the office with me today and he's relaxing in one of the chairs in my office.

I think he's a happy kitty!!

-Christine

November 2009

Hello,
We are having so much fun with our new kitty. I'm not sure if Rob has contacted you since we brought him home, but our boys named him "Boo" (according to them, his full name is Felix Xavier, but his nickname is Boo).
He is very playful and affectionate, and as you can see from the attached photo, very interested in our dog Lola.

I've scheduled an appointment with the vet for tomorrow and wanted to make sure that he had not already received his rabies shot. I saw on his record that he's had the FVRCP, so he'll get his booster. Thank you for clarifying this--we want to make sure he's getting only what he needs.

Regards,
Jen Dickinson
 

2009

Hi Jennifer, I thought you might get a kick out of this photo of Masti fishing. 

Masti is a very social boy. He always greets visitors and follows me around the house to keep me company.  When he is happy, he thumps his tail from side to side, and it is so funny because it is doglike in that his whole body is wagging from side to side.

He is full of energy and just quivers before he leaps or takes off after a toy.  He is a joy to have!!

Oh, and one more thing, Masti loves to drink from the faucet and will sit by the sink and cry for me to turn it on.  He is so smart, he figured out how to turn the water on himself!  I found this out because I came home from a trip out of town, and the cat sitter was SURE she had turned the faucet off and had checked it twice!  I caught him soon after. He repeatedly taps the handle with his paw until it opens.  I had to take the handle off, so now he has to wait for me to get a drink. 

Since his name means "mischief" in Hindi, I think it is the perfect name for my sweet boy!

I have a new job next fall, so Masti will become a Missouri cat as of August.  I will keep in touch.  He is a beautiful boy, and the BEST natured animal you can imagine!   You should be so proud of your breeding!! -- Cathy Thomas

August 2009

Mako and Dari both seem very happy and healthy, full of life and energy. It has been a very rewarding challenge to keep them occupied with new toys and interesting puzzles and challenges, mixed with plenty of "together" play time, petting and snuggling. They are both so different, and yet both so sweet. Mako is really showing his "wild" side lately. He has discovered the ceiling fan, and while he is a bit frightened of the fan itself, the pull cord is a constant frustration. He sits beneath it, judging the height, standing up on his hind legs for long seconds, wondering when and how he will be able to catch that thing. Frequently, he will howl at it, almost like a wolf at the moon. Then, during certain times of the evening which I call the "Witching Hour", he suddenly begins racing around the room, up and down the furniture, the cat tree, and kitty runs (chasing invisible dinosaurs, I'm sure), uttering the most amazing guttural cry, with puffed tail and wild eyes. Then just as suddenly, he will climb onto my lap, all purrs, snuggles and cuddles, as if to reassure me that the dinosaurs have been properly taken care of. As for toys, his very favorite is the teaser – a “bird” at the end of a string on a wand. He is amazing to see, chasing, jumping, twirling like an acrobat, and snatching that thing out of mid-air. When he finally catches it, he trots off to his "cave" to play with it in peace. What a character! He has become very bonded with me, as well as with his brother. He loves to nap in my lap, at my feet, or on a pad I've place for him under the lamp on my desk. In fact, as I write, they are both asleep on that pad, cuddled up together as always.

Meanwhile, Dari approaches the world with a wide-eyed, innocent curiosity, every bit as playful and energetic as Mako, and at times even fiercer! He is still smaller and more delicate than Mako, but he is so brave, more so than his larger, wilder brother, and oh so curious, wanting to explore every inch of every corner of the rooms they have access to - and always wanting more. He loves chasing the "bird" as well, and is almost as acrobatic as Mako, but he treats it more of a game. Mako is still his number one buddy, so he is not much of a cuddler yet, but he has started sitting beside me on the couch or on my desk for company. He does enjoy being held, purring constantly - but not for too long because, of course; there is still more exploring to be done! He also loves the ceiling fan cord, but he seems to take a more philosophic approach. He will gaze at it longingly, but then sigh and trot off to more rewarding pursuits. His favorite toy is still the scrunched paper balls, although since he tends to nibble bits from them, I try to limit that toy. His next favorite is a tiny stuffed toy that he carries around, throws here and there, then pounces ferociously. He is such a fine hunter! The ping pong ball is also a favorite with them both. When the witching hour strikes, Dari watches his brother, careening around like a wild cat, with a puzzled look. He will often join in the chase, but more for the fun of it than out of insane impulse. He also loves the TV - when we watch a movie, he will sit on the arm of the couch staring intently at the screen, as if trying to discern the plot. He especially likes car chases and animals! For Mako, movie time is cuddle time; he is much more intrigued with my computer monitor, sitting in front of it while I type, trying to pat the cursor.

The boys are a wonderful match for each other, wrestling, chasing, playing, and of course sleeping together. In their wrestling, I am pleased to see that they take turns attacking and defending. They have been starting to sleep apart occasionally, but they always seem to wind up together at some point. Feeding them according to your recommendations has gone very well; I like feeling confident that they are getting the nutrition they need. Mako always lets Dari eat first, waiting until his smaller brother has had his fill before going to the food dish. Dari seems perfectly willing to share, no growling or pushing away, but Mako seems to be content with this arrangement. I suspect that Mako is not quite as hungry, since he will eat the kitten kibbles I leave out for him.

They have definitely grown in the last two weeks. Mako is more handsome than ever, purring almost constantly (when he isn't howling!). Dari is still delicate, with a sweet, lovely face. The glitter in his fur is really starting to show - he is so soft and gorgeous! (I think they know I'm writing about them - they are both purring in their sleep!)

Every day brings something new and amazing. I want to thank you again for trusting me with two such amazing creatures.
The care you give your kittens and all your cats really shines through in my boys.

Brandy

---

 
September 2009

A couple of funny stories for you:

I was eating a chunk of cornbread at my computer (bad habit!). I left for a moment, and found the cornbread gone when I returned. Had I finished it off? Could be, I had been working hard and might have been distracted. Meanwhile, Dari was playing with what I thought was his little stuffed toy - he was prancing around, flipping it over and over, jumping into the air, juggling it with his front paws while dancing on his hind legs, and generally having a ball. But whenever Mako tried to join in, Dari would growl quite earnestly, which was most unusual, trotting off to find a more secure spot. Finally, he settled down to eat it, which clued me in as to the whereabouts of my missing snack! I let him eat a bit, and then when he turned his back, snatched it up. He was a bit confused, searching for his yummy edible toy. Then he figured it out and looked at me accusingly. What a riot! Since the cornbread incident, Dari will get a little growly with his toys, but only when he is wound up. Mako looks at him with a bit of concern, and backs off. He is a good “big brother”, and they are such excellent companions! Meanwhile, Mako is more cuddly every day – and louder. They are both so quiet normally, but suddenly Mako will let out a “MEOW?!” that really captures my attention. We have become much attached, and he often curls up in my arms for a nap. He is even showing signs of jealousy now – when I am petting Dari, Mako comes running to get his share. I try to give Dari loads of attention when he wants it, since he doesn’t ask to cuddle as often. He is still more attached his sweet brother, although Dari is now wanting to sleep near me (on my desk or at my feet). While he is drifting off to sleep, he loves to have his cheeks, eyes and ears rubbed, which I happily oblige.

I have started letting them out of the office, but only when I am with them. They absolutely love to explore, although both of them are a little nervous. Sometimes, they are so tightly wound, I can see their little legs quivering! They settle down so quickly, though, and then their new space turns in to a big play pen. We have wooden floors in the hallways, and as you well know, their favorite thing is the ping pong balls – they roll so much better on wood! That and the balled up paper, which crackles so deliciously! Yesterday I wanted to clean the office, including vacuum the floors. I figured they would probably not like to be here for that, so I put them in the master bathroom, which is a rather large space, along with some of their toys. Meanwhile, my husband came home from his errands with a sack full of feeder goldfish. We put some of them in a pan on the floor of the bathroom and watched the fun. The boys were so fascinated with the fish, and yet so put-out that there was water in that pan! Dari was the most adventurous – he smacked that water again and again, trying to get at those fish! They never tired of watching them, and I was able to get all my cleaning done with never a complaint from them. I put the pan in the little office bathroom, once they went back into the office, and they continued to enjoy the game. I finally removed it when Dari successfully fished one out! I’m not sure about eating goldfish at this age. We took videos of them fishing, as well as jumping after the “ghost” (a tattered sock on a string, tied to the end of an old fishing rod). Mako is an amazing little acrobat!

They had their first face-to-face with the other cat, Tiger. He hissed at them and glared. Dari gave a tiny hiss and stood his ground for a while, finally backing away. A few minutes later, same thing happened with Mako. I think it will help letting them roam the house while Tiger is out. Their scent is everywhere, and hopefully he will become resigned to the inevitable. Meanwhile, he is outdoors almost all the time – he only comes in to eat and drink.

Hope all is well with you, and all your new babies.

Take care,

Brandy

Katznjamr Tres Cool - retired and living with Tanya Routson
2009

2008

Hi Jennifer, I'm not sure if you remember me, but I received a cat from you just before the Christmas of 2000.  His mother is Oasis and his father is Bakari  We made arrangements to have him neutered and not be able to show him.

I just wanted to tell you that he has been one of the best cats I have ever owned.  He is sweet, gentle, funny, very smart, a big helper around the house, and a lover (of course when he wants to be).

I just wanted to thank you for giving us this opportunity to be parents to him.

I was showing a friend your website (he didn't believe me when I explained the breed) and I am so glad to see that you have done so well with your cats.  I attached a picture of him so that you can see how pretty /big he has gotten. 

Again, thank you so very much!!!

Jeanne Hartranft, RN

2009

Hi Jennifer.  Thought you might like to see photos of my beautiful boy--Masti! He is still growing, but he is such a nice boy!! He grooms his sister, Rafika and they snuggle at night. During the day, they play "chase", taking turns on who is the aggressor. Sometimes they are really mad and one of them will have a big tail, but mostly it is in fun. His markings are so beautiful. Your care in breeding is clear in both his looks and his gentle demeanor. I love him, but the vets always comment on his personality when I take him in for checks!!

No doubt you are on to your millionth litter since then, but wanted to say thanks:)

I can't remember which photos I posted, so am adding a few more. There is a cute one of Masti and Rafika--he brought her a toy and was so hoping she would play. She (of course), not only ignored him, but growled any time he touched the present he brought her. But, he is just so good natured--the follow up photo is the one where he fell asleep:)

Also, his name, pronounced "mus-thi" is Hindi for mischief--one of my international colleagues named him and it couldn't be more appropriate. He is such a boy....

I am so happy that I was able to find you and that Masti is now part of my family! I bet it is not so often that someone gets to take one of your babies for a "test drive", but this has worked out so well.*

I am sure you are looking forward to your late spring litters. The fuzzies are sure fun. Hope your class is going well too!    -- Best, Cathy


* Side Note -- Masti had a "test drive" as a new member to Cathy's family due to the fact that her female cat, Rafika, was a very shy and nervous rescue cat. Cathy was very concerned about the health and welfare of Rafika, so only wanted to introduce a cat that would be able to create a bond with Rafika, and not cause her more stress. We are very happy to say that Masti has been a wonderful friend to Rafika, and his calm, playful, outgoing, self-assured demeanor has encouraged Rafika to emulate some of these characteristics. Cathy, too, did an excellent job in making this transition as smooth as possible.

2009

Jennifer,

Basically, 9 days have gone by and thought an update on how the kitten I got for my birthday is doing.

The attached photos are from the past three days. I built a "cat tree" for him, which is what he is playing on in one of the photos.*

I think we have settled in on the name of Tia-Lung or Tia for short. Our two/three year old tabby has apparently befriended him, and our other two cats have accepted him. 

He has a wonderful personality!  

 

He seems to recognize me immediately upon sight. His territory has expanded over the last three days and he has now ventured beyond the master bathroom, to the master bedroom and currently investigating the living room and kitchen areas. His play energy is great, but I am glad that he has been accepted by the others as it helps with getting that play energy out for the nights.

Truly a wonderful animal and a great addition to our family. Easily one of the great gifts I have gotten in my life. More to follow...
 
Vincent M. LeMond

*Great cat tree, Vincent!!!

 

2008

Jennifer,

I don't know if you remember us, but we bought a Bengal kitten from you last June.

We're the ones that came late at night, and I bought the kitten for my husband's birthday...Vincent & Sharon LeMond.

At any rate, I wanted to give you an update and send a few pics of him now that he's approaching his 1-year birthday!

He's doing great and is beautiful. We got him neutered last fall, and he has bonded with the whole family. We love him, especially my husband.

He is truly a different kind of cat and we have enjoyed all his antics! He is quite a character!!

Take care,

Sharon LeMond
Austin, TX

 

2008

Jennifer,

Just wanted to say hello. Sam has turned into a handsome boy! See pictures attached. He is huge!!! He is hilarious and is such a talker with an attitude. He is normally pretty good but he likes to be sneaky. If my husband or I get onto him he talks back. It is really funny- and we try so hard not to laugh at him when he does it. He pretty much gets his way around the house.

Joe likes to take him outside to play "fetch/retrieve" or I guess in Sam's view "hunt". Joe will throw his toy really far out and Sam will run after it at warp speed. He loves running! I'm kind of worried he runs too much but he is never out of breath and the vet said that it's okay.

He looks so much like his dad "Gandolf". He is a spectacular cat. He loves to cuddle, which our other cat doesn't.
It's really interesting how he interacts with our other cat. They love to chase each other. It starts up every night at around 10 pm and sounds like a herd of reindeer - we finally had to start taking their collars off at night so we could get some peace and quiet.

The pictures attached are what Joe calls "his stately pictures". Sam looks so serious in them.  By the way, I like your new website. Looks good!  Thanks, Hollie Williams

2007

Hi Jennifer, Don't know if you remember us, but we bought Rokari from you eight years ago.  His dad was Bakari and mom Little Oasis. Rokari just turned 8 and we still just love him to death.

He is very spoiled and has rule of the house. Everyone that comes in just loves him,
and he is still very social, loves to answer the door! I check your site periodically and you guys still have the most awesome cats!!!

Thought you might like some pics of him!!

Take care!
Ted and Roberta
 

We lost the dates on many of our older photos and letters when our website crashed.

If you see your Bengal photo and can email the year you sent in your letter, we would love to add the date!

Updates are always welcome from our older Bengals, too!

Hi Jennifer, you had requested some photos of Maya so here is the best I could do.  She is never still for a moment! 
The little dog in the pics that she is "attacking" is my toy Australian shepherd. They love to play, but she always wins!

She is such fun to be around, and we are so glad we got her.

Thanks again for everything,

Kathy and John Vasquez
Corpus Christi, TX

Hi Jennifer,

I just thought I would send you some pictures of Eclipse. We got his last shots the other day and he's wonderful.

We love him so much he turned out just like his brother *CRAZY* "lol", but we love him. He's not boring, that's for sure, and he loves watching Daddy play video games and watch TV. 

He thinks he's helping me in the kitchen (but he's not shhh... I didn't tell you). He really is great! He already weighs 6 lbs. 4 oz. and he's barely 5 months yet! He's growing fast.


Here are some pictures...he's also very lazy as you can see in one of the pictures.

THE MADRID FAMILY - 2008

2009

Hey Jennifer,

Gold n Silver are doin' great... used their litter box from day 1 !

No whinin' or anything... they're having a blast... playing with each other and exploring the new surroundings..

:-) glad I got two...

-- Pat Sablatura

 

 

Here’s the latest pictures of the kitties…

They’re so fun and energetic…… using their box and havin’ a blast… course their favorite toy of all 1,000 I have ...

... a crumbled piece of paper ---- totally adjusted to the house and like their ‘room under the stairs’

-- Pat Sablatura
 

2009

Dear Jennifer,

Reed and I wanted to send you some pictures of Vincent.

He is the best cat ever, loves to play and cuddle.

We love him so much and really appreciate you letting us adopt him.

Hope all is well,

Abby Marquis

2008

Hi Jennifer!

I took some pictures of Tinkerbelle yesterday and wanted to pass them along. They aren't really the best pictures taken inside but still cute. The kids had been playing on the couches and she was just lounging around with them. Then I even got a picture of her talking to me while I was snapping pictures, he he.

The outside pictures are much clearer but I couldn't seem to get one of her looking at me.  Every time I called her name she ran to me instead of just looking, ha-ha. So instead I have mostly pictures where she was standing directly in front of me or rubbing on me or the kids. Silly girl, doesn't she know I want some good pictures? Oh well, I was going to try and take more tomorrow and hopefully she will cooperate. But we are talking about a Bengal. HA! Anyways, thought you might enjoy these.

She really has finally started to get super close to us.  She's been close, but you can tell in the last few months it's gotten sooooo much more. I think after 1.5 years she finally knows how much we love her and shows us back how much she loves us. She sleeps with us all the time and won't be in a room without us.

She's my toilet buddy too, ha-ha. She even lets me give her a shower as long as I'm in there too. We have only done that twice, but I didn't get clawed! I guess she figured she was fine since she sits on the tub edge every time we shower or the kids get baths. She won't swim though, she doesn't like the water THAT much!  She has an appointment with our vet to get her annual shots. I can't believe she is going to be 4 in a week! Such a pretty girl.

Anyways, I hope all is well. I was hoping to come out to your cattery sometime this summer with my daughter. She wanted to see all your cats in person instead of just with our pictures. She doesn't understand the difference in size of the boys and girls and so on. That will probably happen maybe in August if you don't mind. I thought it would be a fun mother/daughter thing. Talk to you later!    ~Heather

 A very warm and friendly wish for a very happy holiday!
We sure do love our Bella Bella!
She's a great addition to our family.

Thanks so much,
Elaine and Linn

2007 -- Indian Jones Update - 8 years young!

Indiana is a talker, but Indy’s vocalizing was encouraged by us! As a baby he mewed and we gave him things, picked him up, or just talked back. In Dalhart, when he was outside (remember, totally cat proof fence) and lost sight of us, he would call. Of course, to reassure him, I would answer and he would come running!

In the house, he would call and start sounding off as he searched the house, while we were answering.

When he’s sleepy, he squenches up his face and makes a baby-cat sound! If we make it to bed before he does, he jumps on the bed and makes the baby-cat sound, letting me know to turn over, raise up my right arm so he can snuggle down!

For a drink out of the faucet, he makes a deeper “growly” sound. Anyway, the list goes on!

Yes, many, many, early mornings he has woken us up, yowling to let us know he’s ready for action. After all, he sleeps from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. HA!
 
I think because he’s smarter than the average domestic cat, he’s the easiest to handle when it comes to doing nails, giving meds, or going to the vet. It’s easier to communicate to him and for him to grasp that nothing really bad is going to happen. He doesn’t like it, but, there’s no blind panic, because he’s intelligent enough to recognize and sense intentions. Does that make sense? Am I all wet about this, or is this not uncommon for Bengals?

My wonderful Scarlet, the fabulous purebred domestic (not a Bengal), came from a very well known cattery, but not sure what happened when she was young. I think because she was not socialized early on like Indiana was. We’ve had her for 2 years and just now she’s “communicating” by body language and voice. She doesn’t have the level of “savvy” that Indiana has.

Anyway, have a very Happy Thanksgiving! We’ll be traveling to south Texas. Since we have two Maine Coon mix foster kittens at our house, they’ll be going with us. The big cats are all right for two days alone, but not the babies! -- Ruth

---

2004

Hello, Jennifer,

We were up your way yesterday to make a delivery for a new customer. I didn’t have your phone number with me, nor your address and so wanted to look your website up today and put your info in my wallet.

These are some pictures of Indy and his brother, Harry. Harry is just another “found cat” that came up to our house when he was a few weeks old. He’s a beautiful boy and is so funny. He “talks” to us just like Indy does. Indy announces his arrival into a room, and now he calls us from the stairs below when he hasn’t seen one of us for awhile. He has a really “kittenish” voice he uses when he is tired and ready for a nap. He comes to me and wrinkles his nose and mews. That’s his way of telling me we need our Saturday or Sunday afternoon nap! He still likes to curl up under my right arm and throw his front leg out.

Anyway, attached are some recent photos if you would like to post one of them. Indy has been with us for five years now. He’s getting a little pudgy around the middle lately. I thought moving into a house with stairs would give him some more exercise, but we’re gone so much of the day, they sleep too much.

Ruth Dody

Matrix and Morpheus - 3 months

Hello Jennifer, here are some pictures of the Bengals you helped us with.
I think they are VERY HAPPY... We love to play with them a lot....
They seem to LAUGH AT the silly cat teasers, but we LOVE to make them earn their fun....
 
We are very grateful for your help with fulfilling our dream to enjoy such wonderful Leopards.
 
Best regards,
 
Ben and Tanya

Hi Jennifer,

Thought you might want to see a recent picture of Max.  Isn't he beautiful?

He is so smart he can turn the light switch on or off by jumping up the wall, and he can open my bathroom door because the handle is the kind that is long to the side....he turned on the clock radio the other day as well as the cold water in one of the bathrooms.....he is quite the handful.....and we love every minute of him. He and the dog have integrated into each others lives well.....except when Max drowns his toy mice in the dog's water dish.....then the dog just walks away, in disgust I believe.  

We look at your site often and hope to add another from your family to ours in the near future. -- Linda Pachuta

Good morning Jennifer,

Here are some more photos of Max....Yes, he is stunning.....but it is his personality that makes him so delightful....he is very loving and also the most inquisitive cat... he is into everything.......we have sticky tape all over the house to try to salvage the flower arrangements and the breakables....the tureens no longer have ladles in them...too tempting to bat around...lids are taped shut....one day he was hanging on the light fixture over the dining room table....he even tries to climb the door ways....can't ......but he jumps about head high before he slides down.....he is very acrobatic when he is chasing the feathers.....which he loves.....he will go to the bookcase where the feathers are laying (out of his reach) and just sit and stare at them ....his way of saying get it down and lets play.....I think maybe if he had another cat to play with that might help him burn up some energy.....or it could be Max times two.....:)

I do have a question, when would be the optimum time to get another cat....is there a time that is too late....or too soon.....do they crave companionship of the same species?

Take care and we will keep in touch,

Linda Pachuta
 

 

Sheva says Merry Christmas.

Still in love with this little girl. 

She's a handful and a blessing on four paws.

-- Steve Henderson

Hi Jennifer,

I just wanted to shoot you an email update regarding Tino, whom I purchased from you back in 2001. He was out of Bakari and Rodeo.

I attached two pictures - Tino and Tiberius (the big cat) together trying to fit into a box LOL.

The other is my dog Duke and the two cats lying together. Tino is such a loving cat he has a wonderful personality. I don’t tell the others, but he is my favorite.

Marisa Prevatt
Westland, MI

Jennifer,

She is very pretty and lovable. I had her fixed three weeks ago and the vet said in 35 years as being a vet this is by far the prettiest Bengal he has ever seen.

She loves Maggie, my puppy. She has been real fun to have around.

She has got to be one of the most lovable cats ever.
-- Tearie
 

  

I'm attaching some photos of Merlin enjoying the backyard. He jumps and flies from big pine tree to another. All the while Jazzy is giving him love licks and trying to heard him when he's on the ground.

Right now they're asleep on the recliner chair together. Alexa loves playing with Merlin and the sparkle wand thing. He likes her toys too. Alexa laughs out loud when they are playing together. I can tell Jerome really likes him. Merlin looks like he's getting some new whiskers?

All my neighbors have been coming over to see him, they're all impressed. One neighbor is interested in buying a pet kitten from you.

I have got to get to bed! I'm exhausted. Thanks again for our wonderful boy, Merlin. Like you said, it's as if it were meant to be.

Love you - E

Bagheera -- one of a few Katznjamr marbles -- isn't he stunning!
Owned by Albert and Rosemary Mandell.

FIVE YEAR UPDATE

Hi Jennifer!

Believe it or not, it has been 5 whole years since I got my Leo from you. He is just the light of our lives. He keeps up always laughing. Most importantly, it never ceases to amaze me how sweet he is (so much like his dad).

As you probably remember, he was a great foster-uncle for abandoned kitten. Now, he is getting ready to be a big brother. We are expecting our first human child in January and Leo seems to be very aware of that. He loves to sleep by my side with his head on my stomach. He also loves to stare at my stomach and watch it move.

We can't wait for the big day to see what he does. I'm sure he will be a fantastic big brother. Thanks so much for our baby!!

Amy Tong

---

Hi Jennifer,

I thought I would drop you a quick note and photo to let you know how wonderful Leo is. Last time at the vet for his annual check, he was 15 pounds! He is a huge and loveable little guy. I really don't know what we would do without him. He reminds me so much of his dad. Very similar in size and disposition. And he loves to PLAY!! I keep trying to talk my husband into another one, but he says one Bengal is like 5 regular cats. They are so energetic and always in the same room with you.

 Thanks so much for our boy!! 

Amy Tong

Leo – caretaker of homeless kittens.

2002

Hi Jennifer,

We haven't sent you pictures of Rococo in a while so we thought you might like to see how much he has changed. One thing that has not changed is his favorite pose on his cat tree. I'm sure you'll notice the resemblance to the picture of him you have on your website when he was about 3 months old.

He continues to become a more important and lovable member of the family every day! Of course he does try our patience from time to time, sometimes by spinning an entire roll of toilet paper to the floor, or by scooting his water bowl across the floor until he has splashed all of the water out of it, or still other times by getting his head stuck in an empty milk glass only to launch it across the room as he is startled when he gets caught!

We look at all of his antics and just laugh as we remember this is why we chose the Bengal.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Sincerely,

Mike & Theresa

---

2001

Hi Jennifer,

We snapped a couple of pictures of Rococo today and thought you might like to see how he is growing up! He's really muscling up and weighs about 5 pounds now. 

He got to meet a Labrador puppy last night that belongs to a friend and he wasted no time making it clear who the dominant pet would be. Without being mean he made several attempts to tackle and roll, but the puppy reacted mostly by seeking shelter until Rococo got bored. We were all quite entertained and realize how much Rococo will enjoy another Bengal companion when one is available.

Rococo is minding his manners when it comes to the litter box and has had no more "accidents" in weeks.

His infinite energy will outlast our children's and provides them with hours of enjoyment every day.

He really is the perfect pet!

I have attached two pictures and will send more as he matures.

Mike
San Antonio, Texas

2001

Merry Christmas, Jennifer! 

Kryptonite, fondly known as "Rocky," is the most amazing pet we have ever owned. We are so in love with him! Rocky loves to sit on the edge of the tub, and occasionally bathe. He can jump on top of the doors in the house!

He loves to go for walks in the backyard on a leash. Did you already train him to walk on a leash? He is really good at it!

He sleeps with me at night, and purrs in my face to wake me up five minutes before the alarm goes off. He must have an internal clock! He has a lovely voice and speaks an interesting and varied dialect of Kitty-ese. He trills and chirps. He purrs like a Harley-Davidson. And he wails when he wants to round up all the girls. He is definitely the king of his pride.

Enjoy the pictures.

Please stay in touch. I check your web site often. I can't wait see your next litters, especially the Savannahs! Are you going to bottle feed them?

Julie Mosely

2001 

Watch Nala jump into Kacie's arms!

Ready...

Airborne!

Catch me mom!!!

You wanted pictures of Nala at 6 months, but I hope you can settle for 7. I hope you enjoy them, she is quite beautiful.

I have included some showing her habits. One that I am glad we caught on was the fact that she will only drink water from a glass on the table with ours.

I would notice from time to time that she was not touching the water by her food but would insist on chasing our drinks around. I gave her a glass of her own and we haven't had any problems. Oh yea, she prefers the ice water over regular.

She also likes to take running leaps into my arms, which is shown step by step in the pictures. I hope things are going well aside from our nation's tragedies.

Have a good day,

Kacie Heinze

  

Jennifer,

Just thought I would send you some pictures I took of Taboo. She is doing just fine and living the "high life" as most cats do.

Bill McDonald

Hi Jennifer!

We just wanted to send you some recent pictures of Smokey and The Bandit. We have loved having both of them join our family! Megan LOVES playing with them. The both like to go for walks in the house in her doll stroller. I will send some pictures of that!

Best,

Jeff, Jenny, and Megan Pfeiler

 

A rare moment - Usually he is getting in to trouble!! He he!

He is so loveable and sweet - He is finally standing up for himself with the baby - the baby bit his tail the other day and I was watching but tired of telling the baby no - so I figured the cat will teach him! Yup he did smacked him right in the face - I wasn't worried about the cat or the baby though because he is so gentle his claws never come out.

-- The Robertson Family

 

Meiko and Keira

I purchased Zoey from you last November. Naturally, Matt and I fell head over heals in love with her. But I think Zoey is ready for a friend. Are you selling any of your female babies as pets? If so, for how much and when will they be ready? Thanks so much.

Here are a few photos of our Zoey.

Rachel Quintero

Jennifer,

We decided to name our new kitten Jaegar which means hunter in German and seems very appropriate for this little fella. We initially quarantined him so the existing cat could "discover" him under the door. The first 24 hours sounded like a feline battle-zone complete with hissing and the exchange of paws. Of course the kitten thought it was great fun but the older cat (Olive) was quite upset.

It didn't help matters much when the first time we opened the door Jaegar decided, in classic David vs. Goliath fashion, to attack the giant orange kitty! In fact he rode her like a bull at the rodeo! The progression from there to now, less than a week later, has been VERY entertaining...now they're inseparable best buddies.

Thanks a million... Christopher & Hannelie Fleming
 

Jennifer--

Pete and I thought you might enjoy seeing some recent pics of Elwood and Jake. Aren't they handsome boys? They love their kitty tree and spend a lot of time on it. Both of them are very affectionate and I'm never alone--they follow me everywhere, including the bathroom! Or, I should say, especially in the bathroom. Whenever they hear the tub being filled or the shower turned on, they're there!

They sleep with us every night but they're also very flexible. We're having a new house built and have temporarily moved into an apartment and they're adjusted to the new place without skipping a beat.

They're very curious, too. I was having trouble teaching them not to jump on the kitchen counter, then I realized they don't actually want onto the counter--they just wanted to see what was going on. As soon as I moved their tree so they could see what I was doing they stopped trying to get on the counter.

We really do love them and I can't tell you how much they've added to our lives. We surely do love our babies!

Carla Luan

SGC Katznjamr Inkosi's mom, Sakura

Jennifer,

I'm sure that you have heard by now that we have moved! Trent took a job in Houston. We moved here about 4 weeks ago. We bought a small house in the Heights and are starting to remodel. Sakura absolutely loves it!

I was worried about her, but it went off with out any issues.

She now has 19 windows to sit in and chatter at the local outdoor cats, and squirrels.... oh she loves the squirrels.

She is strictly indoors now and is doing o.k. with that. We plan to build either a fence or a protected area so she can be outside some, but we have many other projects right now and I have a feeling a lot of the cats outside aren't properly cared for.

Hope things are going well. Your website looks great!

Take Care,

Michelle and Sakura

Hello Jennifer,

We just wanted to let you know that we had "Ziggy" altered today. He just came home and is doing great.

The doctors did not want him to go because he was such the perfect patient. In fact, I think they may have intentionally kept him longer.

-- Derrick Pegden

Hi Jennifer!

It has been several months since we received Raja from you and we just wanted to say how thankful we are for him! He is a great kitten with a wonderful personality! Enjoy the pictures as much as we are enjoying him!

Thanks again

Tammy Freijy

2005

Steven and Vonda Earnheart's handsome Bengal boy, Caesar and his Savannah buddy.

The Christmas Bandanas are a great touch!

Katznjamr's Sheba

Nekko Ra - first week in his new home.

Owned by Weldon and Edna Kirk.

2000

2000

2002

Jennifer,

The kids are doing great! Dakota weighs about 12 pounds and Copper is bringing up the rear at about 10.

They are quite the acrobats. Dakota seems to have a love for water. He jumped in the shower one morning and since then jumps up on the door to get in.

I used to have some Siamese kittens and I thought they were vocal. Dakota has some lungs on him. When he wants attention, he let's you know. Attached are some recent pictures. They have the run of the place as you can see.

I wish I had the camera when they experienced their first powder day in Colorado. They looked like little dear pouncing; it was hilarious! Take Care.

Ron Cushing
Denver, Colorado

1998

Thanks, Jennifer.

Harley has an appointment May 7 to be neutered. I just took a bunch of pictures so as soon as I finish off the roll of film I'll send you a recent one.

I'm hoping I got a good shot showing off his beautiful coat. The attached picture is from around the middle of February, right at about four months.

My scanner hasn't been working that great, so the color may be a little off.

Harley's coat has gotten a lot of the glitter you talked about. He sparkles!

How exciting that his brothers are doing so well in the show world! I'm not sure I'll get into showing - can you show altered cats? I was under the impression that the cats that were for show were most often the ones up for breeding.

Best of luck with all your new kittens - busy spring for you! I'll send pictures when possible.

Thanks,

Susan
Austin, Texas

1998

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