Feb 10, 2012
Domestic cats with a hybrid background (Bengals,
Savannahs, & Chausies)
and the "Dangerous wild animal" law in Iowa
| Do you know someone
in Iowa that owns a Bengal Cat,
Savannah or Chausie? If so, please make them aware of this information!
Bengals and Savannahs are eligible to show around the world in all-breed championship cat shows of The International Cat Association, and nearly all other international purebred cat associations. Chausies are also regularly shown and working toward championship status. For example, in the
2009-2010 show season, 495 kittens, 657 championship
adults Bengals, and other feline breeds such as the Savannah and Chausie that have a exotic feline in their background, should be excluded from Iowa’s new “dangerous wild animal” law. They are domestic cat breeds, neither wild or dangerous.
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Because
of flawed and confusing wording in a law in Iowa meant to regulate
exotics and "dangerous wild animals", any domestic breed
of cat with a hybrid background is technically considered to be
illegal to own without special permitting no matter how many generations
from an exotic feline they are. Bengals, Savannahs and Chausies,
cat breeds that have a hybrid background, are considered illegal
even if there is no exotic cat ancestor within 2, 10, or even 20
generations.
| Feb 10, 2012 update A bill to exempt 4th generation Bengals and Savannahs (although not Chausies) from Iowa's dangerous wild animal law was introduced to the Iowa legislature in Spring, 2011. Senate File 479
(SF 479) This bill passed out of the Senate in 2011 and is currently (2012) sitting in Subcommittee in the House, Natural Resources Committee Direct link for most current status Text-only version |
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HOW TO HELP
*********** >> Contact
your Iowa state legislators: and ask them to exempt domestic
cats such as the Bengal Cat and Savannah from Iowa's "dangerous
wild animal" law. Please note that calling and talking
to your legislators directly is MUCH more effective than sending
an email or fax.
>> Join the "Make Bengals and Savannahs legal to own in Iowa" Facebook page to watch for the latest news, information and discussions: http://www.facebook.com/#!/iowacats
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or use this direct link
...“Dangerous wild animal” includes an animal which is the offspring of an animal listed in paragraphs “1” to “11” and another animal listed in those paragraphs or any other animal. It also includes animals which are the offspring of each subsequent generation. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include the offspring of a domestic dog and a wolf, or the offspring from each subsequent generation in which at least one parent is a domestic dog… Therefore, according to the Iowa Dept of Agriculture and Land Stewardship who is tasked to enforce this law, any domestic cat that has a small exotic cat in the background such as an Asian Leopard Cat (average weight 9 pounds) or a Serval (average weight 25 lbs) is considered illegal no matter how many generations they are from the exotic feline ancestor (even though first generation wolf/dog crosses are exempt). (Take note of Federal guidelines: USDA definition states that a cross between any exotic and a domestic is considered domestic. From Title 9 Chapter I [link will open a new window]– Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, Part 1: Definition of terms: ”Hybrid cross means an animal resulting from the crossbreeding between two different species or types of animals. Crosses between wild animal species, such as lions and tigers, are considered to be wild animals. Crosses between wild animal species and domestic animals, such as dogs and wolves or buffalo and domestic cattle, are considered to be domestic animals.”)
Read the text
for the Iowa Administrative Code related to enforcement of the "Dangerous
Wild Animal" law. Iowa Agriculture and Land Stewardship Dept
(IDALS), Chapter 77 |
| For
more information regarding the current law, contact the Iowa Dept
of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) Animal Industry Bureau:
IDALS March 2008 newsletter announcement (PDF file, see page 9) IDALS March 2008 newsletter announcement (open in browser, see page 9) |
Domestic cat breeds with a hybrid background:
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Savannahs are derived from crossing the African
Serval with domestic cats. Servals are usually around 30 pounds,
Savannahs are typically 15-25 lbs, slightly heavier than a large
Maine Coon cat. Savannahs are regularly shown in The International
Cat Association (TICA) cat shows, and now competing agains all other
cat breeds with championship status. |
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Chausies are derived from crossing Jungle Cats
with domestics. Jungle Cats average 20-25 lbs and are found from
NE Africa to SE Asia. Chausies are generally slightly larger than
Bengals and smaller than Savannahs. Like Savannahs, they are near
eligibility for championship status in TICA. For more information
see: (World-renowned feline photographer Helmi Flick
with her first generation Chausie “Bushwah”. Photo courtesy
Helmi Flick)
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Watch a Bengal Cat in action on an agility course at a U.S. cat show! On the PBS television show "Nature" episode called "Why we love cats and dogs", a Bengal Cat was featured running an agility course at a cat show. Click on the photo below to view the video.
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Bengals, Savannahs and Chausies have been featured in the international magazine Cat Fancy many times including these issues in: 2000, 2004, 2007. Check out the many videos of pet Bengals
and Savannahs submitted to youtube.
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