I would like to report a serious genetic problem in the breeding of Bengal cats by, xxxxxxxx Halstead, Pennsylvania, USA. She sold me a 10-month old kitten, April 5, 2014. On April 30 the kitten was diagnosed by a cardiologist, Dr, Bossbaly, VSEC, Levittown, PA, to be suffering from a heart disease called subaortic stenosis. Dr. Bossbaly immediately sent a report to the breeder, xxxxxx I also informed xxxxxx, whose only response was that the kitten will usually "grow out of it." I have been informed by 3 different veterinarians that that will not happen with this disease. I have also been informed that breeders who detect this disease in their kittens should no longer breed the parents, since one of them ( if not both) carries this gene. xxxxxx, the breeder, was not responsive to either the veterinary report or to my observation. I fear that she may continue to breed and sell such genetically defective cats to unsuspecting cat lovers -- which will cause harm to the Bengal breed in general.

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