Newt

Meet Newt
Portland, OR

***NEWT BRINGS THE COMEDY!!!***

Newt is a 3-year-old Bengal cat who came into our program last summer. He went to a very loving home (experienced!) with his “buddy” - companion Bengal cat. We didn’t want to separate them because while in foster, he really clung to the other cat and we were sure they needed to stay together. As time went by, it became obvious to everyone that they were not a good match. We’ll tell you more about that later.

Newt is EXTRA!!

He's the most loving, charismatic, hilarious cat you'll ever meet. He is a true comedian: smart in some ways, but mostly... not so much. He doesn't think ahead, so he frequently runs into walls out of sheer enthusiasm while playing with toys, but he never lets it faze him. He is a very strong, athletic cat, so plan on him finding a way to climb your highest bookshelves. He does not intentionally knock things off the shelves, so your candles and nicknacks are relatively safe.

Newt is long and skinny as a weasel but he'll eat anything, including human food if you let him. He loves to look at himself in the mirror, which is understandable because he's a pretty handsome dude (probably a Bengal/Savannah mix). His current caretaker affectionately refers to him as a "himbo," because he's like the cute, loveable, kind-but-dumb, high school jock in a movie. Ha ha ha!

Many cats are highly motivated by something (food, treats, attention, affection, or toys, for example), but Newt is highly motivated by EVERYTHING, making him very trainable. If you tell Newt "No" or "Get down" he listens and obeys remarkably well for a cat, because he wants to please his people.

While he was initially unable to be picked up without becoming reactive, he has made great strides in his current home with consistent, patient training using good treats (he loves freeze-dried chicken and salmon above all else). He even tolerates having his nails trimmed if you only do one paw at a time, and always scratches his cardboard scratcher, not the furniture. He has good litter box manners, but he is a very tall cat and pees standing up, so he needs a tall enclosed litter box (he is also happy to use a Litter Robot if you have one).

He has been taken outside on a leash twice and he took to it immediately, so a home where people are willing to continue his leash training would be ideal. Above all, Newt loves being around people, and would be ideally suited to a home where someone is home all day - that said, he does not have separation anxiety or any destructive habits, so he's fine being left alone as needed.

Newt needs a home without small children, as he can become fearful if someone picks him up incorrectly. Also, Newt has a dominant personality and does not get along with other cats, so he MUST be the only cat in the home. This is the reason he is being re-homed (he is bullying a sick, elderly cat in his current household, but when the other cat is temporarily removed from the household Newt's behavior is impeccable). He did previously live with dogs but it was not a pleasant experience. He might do OK with a cat-friendly dog who knows how to respect his boundaries.