Bengal Cats

     In the recent issue of the IVMA Update, there is an interesting paragraph about Bengal cats. Bengal cats and other hybrid feline species, such as Savannahs, are currently considered part of the Dangerous Wild Animal Bill. This bill can be found on the Iowa General Assembly website and the code for it is 717F. Although the bill states that domestic cats are not included in it, owners must be aware that the Bengal and Savannah are NOT considered by this bill to be domestic cats. It is illegal to breed these cats and owners are required by law to have them microchipped. These cats must also be registered with the state of Iowa.

      If you happen to have one of these cats, you can go to the Iowa Department of Agriculture website. Once there, scroll under the Animal Industry Bureau to Dangerous Wild Animal Registration to find the form required for registration with the state of Iowa. You can also just phone 515-281-5305 to inquire about the registration process.

~Owners who do not comply with the bill can be fined $200.

     This has been a controversial bill. If you want to voice your opinion about it our state veterinarian recommends you contact your legislator as soon as possible.
Elizabeth Bixby, DVM