Have You Seen This Lost Cat, Bengal?

Have you seen Bengal? He’s a 12-pound Marble Bengal cat that has lost his way.

“He’s 12 years old but looks much younger and exhibits the prowling traits of a wild cat,” said his owner, Todd Ruoff.

Bengal was last seen on June 3 near Betsy Ross Court, and Ruoff is desperately trying to find him. He’s even offering a reward.

“We’ve had him since he was 2 months old so it’s an indescribable loss for us,” said Ruoff.

Despite his name and the images of the great wild cats that it conjurs, Bengal can be quite loving.

“I would also say he’s very timid amongst strangers, especially children, but EXTREMELY affectionate once he gets to know you.  Once you’re on his list of trusted caregivers, he doesn’t leave you alone!  He’s a very affectionate cat to anyone whom he deems to be the same toward him,” said Ruoff.

Ruoff said Bengal has oversized years and a piercing meow that is similar to a baby crying at the top of his lungs—only louder.

“We actually think he learned that by seeing the attention that our children got as crying infants… pretty smart.”

Where Ruoff’s other cat is a tabby that sits sloppily on his front legs and his tail straight out, Bengal sits perfectly like a statue, with his feet together and tail wrapped neatly around his feet and hind side.

Ruoff has already checked in with area shelters and Animal Control officers. He is even running an advertisement on EBTV.

An interesting side note to the story is that the EBTV ad actually led to a call and the “rescue” of a second cat that was also lost. The cat was found two miles away near the East Brunswick Public Library. However, the call was a false alarm for Ruoff.

But not his neighbors.

“It just so happens the one they described resembled my neighbor's (Stage Coach Run) missing kitten perfectly so I made the connection.  Their kitten went missing the day after mine, and they hung their 'missing' flyers under all of ours.  Happily, they were reunited yesterday from my EBTV lead.  At least it hasn't been a complete waste of countless hours,” said Ruoff.

If you’ve seen Bengal, contact Ruoff at ruofft@comcast.net or email the East Brunswick Patch at john.saccenti@patch.com or call 732-421-7563.