Looking out for Leo

Have you seen the cat in the photo accompanying this story? Leo, a young Bengal cat, escaped from his home late last year and has been living outside on Daniel Island ever since.  

 

If he looks a little “wild,” it’s because the Bengal breed was established by crossing Asian leopard cats, Felis Bengalis, with domestic cats. Bengals are an established breed of their own now, accepted in 2016 by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats. But despite his survival outside for several months now, Leo is mostly a house cat. He needs to be returned to that environment for his safety and wellbeing.

 

What can be done to help this young feline wanderer get back to a safe, happy home? Enter Kerrin Deretchin – island resident, cat lover and owner of Manx cats, another special breed with its own particular behaviors and needs. 

 

Deretchin arranged to adopt and care for Leo, but there is one problem. She hasn’t been able to catch him. Perhaps more island-wide awareness of Leo and his situation can help her bring him home.

 

Leo’s previous owners, who transferred ownership and his microchip registration to Deretchin, say they are thankful that Deretchin is determined to take good care of Leo and that she has experience with exotic cats.

 

Deretchin posted extensively on the Daniel Island Moms Facebook page about her quest and has received a lot of feedback and support. Based on sightings – many supported by photos – Leo seems to stay within a few miles of home, and he spends the majority of that time in Daniel Island Park. He’s been seen on porches, in chairs and in backyards, and he seems to be attracted to homes with other cats and/or cat-friendly dogs.

 

The cat’s breeder confirmed that Leo is an F1 Bengal cat, meaning that he is a first-generation offspring of a leopard cat and a domestic cat. These kittens are removed early from their mothers and bottle-fed to help with domestication. 

 

The breeder recommends against trying to pick up Leo. She does recommend setting traps and taking him directly to a veterinary hospital once he is caught. 

 

She explained that since Leo has been feral for such a long period, reintroduction to a family will require a period of retraining and coddling.

 

If you see a cute, young cat that looks a little different, he is. But he is not wild and Deretchin is ready to bring him home. Please call Kerrin Deretchin immediately at 864-346-5132 if you see (or have seen) Leo.

 

Suzanne Detar contributed to this article.