Declawed And Neglected Bengal Cat Gets Rescued And Is Looking For Family To Indulge Her Natural Instincts

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Jun 8, 2022 7:00 PM EDT

Bobcats, cougars, tigers, ocelots, and jaguars are all types of wildcats with a common ancestor on the phylogenetic tree. Wildcats are not pets, but some domesticated cats exist that can trace a relatively short lineage back to their natural habitats like Sephera, a Silver Rosetted Bengal.

Meow Stories, a cat rescue group based on the U.S. East Coast, was able to remove Sephera from a home where she wasn't taken care of properly. At some point in Sephera's past, an owner declawed her on all four paws. It's speculated that Sephera doesn't get along too well with other cats because of this reason —she has no way to defend herself.

Story written by Alex Lemieux.

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via Meow Stories

Sephera, like all Bengals, is just four generations removed from the original Asian Leopard-domestic cat hybrid. Although she's a domestic cat, she retains some wild characteristics. Therefore, her claws are integral to her day-to-day life as Bengals love climbing and are typically found in the highest places in the home.
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When Sephera was rescued through a friend connected with Meow Stories, she had years of tartar build-up on her teeth. This is yet another sign she wasn't cared for. Bengals have "very specific" nutrition requirements because they are part wildcats, Meow Stories founder and dedicated rescuer Kate Balow explained. For example, Sephera requires a high-protein, grain-free diet like all carnivorous, leopard-type wildcats.
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via icanhascheezburger

Proper nutrition also helps Sephera, like other Bengals, keep their brilliant rosette markings, the only domestic breed of cat that has them. According to National Geographic, rosettes are used by wildcats for camouflage to simulate the shifting shadows within shaded forests as either a defense mechanism or as a stalking tool.
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via icanhascheezburger

As highly intelligent and energetic felines, Bengals need mental stimulation as an outlet for their natural instincts of stalking and hunting. Neglecting this could mean Sephera will find her own amusement in shredding a chair leg or opening up cupboards where food is stored.
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Bengals, including other wildcats, have an obsession with water, too. Sephera will love to play with it, and running water holds a particular fascination. Nevertheless, a Sephera is now up for adoption, her future family must also remember to keep the toilet seat cover down, as the bowl is the Bengal equivalent of a play pool.
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