When Adventure Turns Into Emergency
Mowgli doesn't walk anywhere. He leaps, climbs, sprints, and launches himself at things. It's entertaining until something breaks.
The Ceiling Fan Incident
I still don't fully understand how this happened. Mowgli somehow launched himself at the ceiling fan while it was running.
The fan knocked him across the room. He landed on the coffee table, then bounced off onto the floor. I just stood there in shock.
Rushed him to the emergency vet at 11 PM. X-rays showed a fractured leg and a dislocated shoulder. The vet asked what happened and I had to say my cat attacked my ceiling fan. She didn't even seem surprised.
Surgery to pin the fracture was $3,800. The shoulder reduction and stabilization was another $1,200. Plus the cone of shame for two months while everything healed.
Mowgli still gives that ceiling fan dirty looks. I keep it turned off now.
He Eats Things He Shouldn't
Bengals are curious. Too curious. Mowgli investigates everything with his mouth.
He once ate a rubber band. Had to have emergency surgery to remove it from his intestines. That was $4,200.
Another time he chewed through an electrical cord. Somehow didn't electrocute himself but burned his mouth bad enough to need treatment. $600 for that.
I've cat-proofed my apartment better than most people baby-proof their houses. He still finds things to get into.
The Great Escape Attempt
Mowgli is an indoor cat. He has other ideas.
He bolted out the front door when a delivery arrived. Was outside for three hours before I found him stuck in a neighbor's fence.
He had cuts all over his face and a gash on his leg from the fence. Needed stitches and antibiotics. $450.
The worst part was the two weeks of him looking at me accusingly while wearing the cone. Like it was my fault he decided to go feral.
The Genetic Problems Show Up Later
Bengal cats are bred from Asian leopard cats. That exotic look comes with some genetic baggage.
Heart Disease At Four Years Old
Mowgli's vet heard a heart murmur during a routine checkup. I didn't think much of it. My old tabby had a murmur and lived to be 19.
But Bengals are different. The vet recommended an echocardiogram to check for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCM is common in the breed.
The echo cost $520. Mowgli's heart muscle is thickening. Not critical yet, but it needs monitoring.
Now we do cardiac checkups every six months at $350 each. He's on medication to help his heart function. $40 a month.
The cardiologist said some Bengals with HCM live long normal lives. Others don't. We won't know which category Mowgli falls into until it progresses or doesn't.
The Eye Problem
During one of Mowgli's many vet visits, the doctor noticed his pupils were different sizes. She referred us to a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Progressive retinal atrophy. Mowgli's retinas are slowly deteriorating. It's genetic in Bengals.
There's no treatment. We just watch and wait. The specialist visits are $280 each, twice a year.
Mowgli doesn't seem to notice any vision changes yet. But the vet says by the time cats show obvious signs, they've already adapted. So who knows.
Sensitive Stomach Drama
Mowgli throws up a lot. Like, more than any cat should.
We've done every test imaginable. Food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, parasites. Everything comes back mostly normal.
The vet says Bengals often have sensitive digestive systems. Something about their wild cat heritage not being designed for commercial cat food.
Mowgli is now on prescription hydrolyzed protein food. $80 for a 12-pound bag. He goes through one every five weeks.
He still throws up sometimes. Just less often. Progress, I guess.
What Bengal Insurance Actually Needs
Between the accidents and the genetics, I've learned exactly what matters for Bengal coverage.
High Accident Limits
Bengals hurt themselves doing Bengal things. Climbing, jumping, attacking ceiling fans. Your policy needs robust accident coverage.
I'd recommend at least $15,000 in annual accident coverage. Mowgli's ceiling fan incident alone used up most of a $5,000 limit.
Also check that they cover foreign body removal. Bengals eat weird stuff. Having surgery coverage for intestinal blockages is essential.
Cardiac Coverage Without Exclusions
Don't let insurance companies exclude heart conditions for Bengals. HCM is way too common in this breed.
Mowgli's cardiac care runs about $3,000 per year with checkups and medication. Without coverage, I'd be choosing between his heart health and my rent.
Make sure they cover diagnostic imaging too. Those echocardiograms aren't cheap.
Genetic Condition Coverage
Eye problems, heart problems, digestive issues. Bengals are beautiful genetic time bombs.
Find a policy that explicitly covers hereditary and congenital conditions. Some insurers try to call these things pre-existing even when they develop after enrollment.
The Bengal-specific problems are exactly what you need coverage for. If an insurer excludes them, find a different company.