UK NEWS

OUR FELINE PETS LIVE IN FEAR OF 'ASBO' MOGGIES

CATFIGHT: There has been a wave of cat attacks in Britain

Tuesday February 24,2009

By Penny Stretton

A CATFIGHT has broken out among feline fans over claims that one “Asbo” breed is terrorising British moggies.

Experts have accused Bengal cats of being responsible for a wave of attacks across the country.

It is claimed that the Bengals are aggressive killers who prey on domestic pets at any opportunity.

Behaviour specialist Debbie Connolly, founder of website safepets.co.uk, said: “What people don’t realise is that these cats are not cute and fluffy.

“They can be dangerous and extremely anti-social.”

Miss Connolly, who also fronts the BBC TV show Dog Borstal, added: “They will break into your house with the intention of killing your pets.”

These cats are not cute and fluffy - they can be dangerous and extremely anti-social.

Debbie Connolly

She insists people are buying the cats because of their attractive leopard-style markings without knowing about their violent tendencies. But her claims that vicious Bengals had left many domestic cats “fighting for their lives” has sent the fur flying.

Barrie Alger-Street, chairman of the Bengal Cat Club, said any violent incidents were not a true reflection of the 40,000 animals across the UK.

He said: “We are absolutely appalled by this statement.

“We get hundreds of emails from families who say they have Bengals and that they are perfect, loving family cats.”

Mr Alger-Street, of Shepperton, Middlesex, who has been breeding Bengal cats since 1991, added: “This is a travesty and our members are speechless.”

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “We are not aware of any current specific incidents involving Bengal cats.”