We are the Uk’s only officially Feline Coronavirus (FcoV) free Bengal breeder, having undertaken a programme of eradication of this disease with our veterinary practice and under the guidance of the University of Glasgow, something we are immensely proud of.

Feline Coronavirus is a highly contagious and common virus that can cause transient gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhoea and vomiting. However, many cats remain asymtomatic. Apart from these initial symptoms, in many cases Feline Coronavirus does not cause a proble. However, in up to 15% of cats, the virus mutates into Feline Infectous Peritonitis (FIP), a very serious and often fatal disease. This multi systemic disease is the biggest killer of cats under the age of two in Britain today, even with available treatment. Treatment is very expensive and must continue for many months.

Breeder establishments and rescue centres are especially at risk due to cats continually reinfecting each other with the virus and cats carrying high viral loads as cats continuously shed the virus. This is why 70% of FIP deaths occur in purebred kittens.

ANGELDUST BENGALS BELIEVES THAT PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE AND THAT IT IS BETTER TO CHOSE A KITTEN THAT IS FREE FROM FELINE CORONAVIRUS.

HCM is the most common form of heart disease in cats. It can cause heart failure, thromboembolism, and sometimes sudden death. Although there are other causes of HCM in cats, it is thought that many cases are genetic.

Angeldust Bengals uses both pro BNp blood tests and annual ultrasound heart scanning to identify any breeding cats that have HCM so that they can be removed from our breeding programme.

Angeldust Bengals test all breeding cats for 50 diffrent diseases, ensuring that our kittens are free from these. The following four are particularly significant within the Bengal breed:

PYRUVATE KINASE DEFICIENCY (Pkdef)

This is an inherited hemolytic anemia causing weakness, heart murmurs, and muscle wasting.

PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY BENGAL (PRA-b)

This genetic disease causes progressive blindness in Bengals, starting at just seven weeks of age, with most cats losing their vision by two years old.

PROGESSIVE RETINALATROPHY (PRA rdAc)

This genetic mutation causes a progressive degeneration of the rods and cones (photoreceptors) in the retina, causing late onset blindness in affected cats.

POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (PKD)

This inherited condition causes multiple cysts (pockets of fluid) to form in the kidneys. These cysts are present at birth and grow larger over time, eventually leading to kidney failure. Cysts may also form on the liver.