‘Highrisk’ Bengal cat sales monitored
CONCERN for native animal species has prompted a Southland council to monitor online pet sales, with a particular focus on Bengal cats.
But both the SPCA and a breeder say they are no more dangerous than other varieties.
This week, an Environment Southland chief executive report said staff were checking retail outlets and online sales sites for Bengal cats and other ‘‘high risk’’ pet sales.
Ownership of the breed requires a special permit in Southland, and there is a complete ban on Stewart Island/ Rakiura.
In response to questions from Local Democracy Reporting, the council said Bengal cats were the main ‘‘high risk’’ pet it monitored.
‘‘Bengal cats have a specific rule in Southland because they have genetic traits that make them dangerous predators to our native species,’’ Environment Southland biosecurity and biodiversity operations manager Ali Meade said.
‘‘If Bengal cats were to breed with the feral cat population, they could have a major impact.’’
The strong stance has received pushback, however, an SPCA spokesperson saying Bengal cats were no more of a threat to native wildlife than other breeds of companion, stray or feral cats.
Parakaibased Bengal breeder Damian Vaughan agrees and slammed the council’s view of the leopardlooking creatures.
Mr Vaughan said while all cats were predators by nature, Bengals had gained an unfair reputation.
‘‘They’re just being picked on because they did come from wild origins, being the Asian leopard cat, and they look wild because of their leopard markings. So it’s purely unjustified,’’ he said.
In order for a Bengal to be let into the country, it had to be five generations removed from the Asian leopard cat.
Those in New Zealand were now at least 10 generations removed, and were no more skilled at hunting than a ‘‘normal domestic cat’’, Mr Vaughan said.