My goals...
 
Welcome to Slavess Bengals and thank you for choosing to visit my website.
 My name is Ren Slaven and I am based in Southend, Essex, England.

 My aim is to produce quality pedigree Bengal cats from top UK and international bloodlines, with good type, wild profiles, puffy whisker pads, bold chins, small ears, short thick tails & strong patterns with loving sociable temperaments & in good health.
 I am particularly keen in strengthening whited undersides to enhance that wild look. I also have a passion for the open, horizontal marble pattern.

 I spend a lot of time researching the breed and try to use cats for my breeding programme which i feel are some of the best examples of the breed available, that can help to enhance & advance the standard of Bengals.

A little about me & how it all began...
 
I never had any interest in pedigree breeds of cats and was always happy with my pet moggies until i first discovered Bengals in winter 2003. I only discovered them by chance, as they were the cover feature of one of the cat magazines that month and the pretty little face caught my eye as i browsed.
 Of course after taking the magazine from the rack and seeing the full picture I was gobsmacked and by the time I had flicked through the feature inside I was already hooked!
 Then followed a period of searching for information on the internet as my interest grew and finally I attended my first cat show to see them in the flesh.

 I think that was probably the point of no return, Bengals had won my heart. I took a long time and thought hard about exactly what i wanted but realised these cats were going to take over my life and I wanted to be involved in exhibiting and breeding them and to be a part of their future development.

 My first potential breeding queen arrived home here in June 2005 and I have been owned by Bengals ever since! I can't ever imagine life without them now.

 I have an older moggy, "Cusack" who has to put up with these naughty little mischief makers in her home and doesn't always take kindly to their rather boisterous methods of play but believe me, she soon puts them in their place if they go too far! She will always be the boss as she was here first.

   My girls & kittens live in my home with me and the dining room has gradually turned into the cat  room, even  accomodating their own giant climbimg frame. I do not let my cats roam free outdoors,  not even my  moggy Cusack, as I feel there are far too many dangers and they are perfectly happy  indoors with  lots to keep them entertained. They also have me at home the majority of the time as I  am self employed.

 The boys will have their own "Love nest" cat chalets in the garden soon which will be heated and  insulated enough to feel like they are actually indoors but I intend to let them have play sessions in  the home and enclose most of the garden for them to all take turns playing in too.

 The breeding girls sleep in the cat room, but as pregnant queens approach their due-date, they are brought into my bedroom or living room for extra comfort and cuddles  until the little bundles arrive.

 The babies are born in a kittening pen and usually spend their first few weeks of development here with their mum for safety, under my ever-watchful eye, until they are old enough to venture out and start exploring. They are handled continually from birth to establish trust and ensure they are comfortable with their human companions from the beginning.

 I introduce them gradually to all the things they may encounter later in life such as familiar household noises and a variety of different people (of course ensuring cleanliness & hygiene while handling), to help get them well socialised & maintain their confidence. After their first vaccinations they are ready to start socialising with some of the older cats.

 By the time the kittens leave home, they should be accustomed to noises, smells and newcomers and should be happy, healthy and outgoing. They will be accustomed to having their claws clipped & having a regular general check-over which is always good practise for veterinary check-ups later on. They will also be familiar with common training words such as "no", "off" and "down" which I can assure you are used very frequently with young adventurous little Bengals although not always obeyed!

 
  If you have any queries or would just like a "cat-chat"  please feel free to contact me, my details are on the home page.

 I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the friends & family who have helped make my Bengal dream into a reality. You are all special people.
Photo credits to "The C", Carol, Jules, Lucy, Philippa & John B. Many thanks.


Ren Slaven, Slavess Bengals 2007. Revised 2010.


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