While some evacuees from wildfires might have to make do with mats on gymnasium floors, not so for a group of 17 who travelled to Salmon Arm last week.

This group is lounging on cushions or socializing with others in a spacious, comfortable and well-furnished facility, where they can sleep, eat and exercise in comfort.

These evacuees are 17 Bengal cats, who came to Salmon Arm from near with cat breeders Jennie Fournier and Eli Roy-Brown, their devoted owners.

Other than their size, Bengal cats look like they would belong in a tropical rainforest with their spotted leopard colours and their muscular bodies. Fournier explains their ancestors are the Asian leopard cat, which was crossed with a domestic variety.

Her fear still fresh, Fournier recounts how, with smoke and flames on the horizon, she took a load of cats and some belongings to her mom香蕉视频直播檚 home in Lone Butte, about 20 kilometres away from 105 Mile. When she returned just two hours later, people had already been evacuated. A 92-year-old woman, like a grandmother to her, had been left behind, so Fournier had to persuade a police officer to allow her to go behind the lines and get her. He was nice and provided her an escort, she says.

The cats ended up spending two days in dog crates, as the couple searched for a place to go. To heighten the anxiety, one of the 香蕉视频直播渜ueens香蕉视频直播� was due to have kittens in two days. And adding insult to injury, someone claiming to have a house to rent in Vernon stole a $350 deposit from them.

Fournier got in touch with Bengal breeders in Kelowna, who suggested trying Pam and Eric Gretzinger in Salmon Arm.

The Gretzingers are now retired Bengal breeders, but still have their deluxe facility for cats.

香蕉视频直播淎s soon as we heard about them, it was obvious,香蕉视频直播� said Pam.

Adds Eric: 香蕉视频直播淲e quickly cleaned the cattery 香蕉视频直播� we hadn香蕉视频直播檛 used it for a lot of years, and cleaned the motor home.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 cried when I walked into the motor home,香蕉视频直播� remarks Fournier, standing in the cattery Saturday. 香蕉视频直播淭hey were offering free to use their whole facilities. This is amazing. It香蕉视频直播檚 bigger than what I have at my house. They (the cats) have only been here for a couple of days, and they香蕉视频直播檙e like, 香蕉视频直播榊up, we香蕉视频直播檙e happy.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Although the Gretzingers haven香蕉视频直播檛 broadcast their history with Bengal cats locally, they were well-known in the Bengal cat world.

They won thousands of ribbons and awards with their cats, including a world title. They showed them a lot 香蕉视频直播� in Texas, New York, all over North America.

香蕉视频直播淲hen we香蕉视频直播檇 get out at a show in New York, people would say, 香蕉视频直播業s that the Canadian cat?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Eric smiles.

The couple retired to get a break from the 24/7 commitment, but they香蕉视频直播檝e kept three cats as pets.

香蕉视频直播淎t this time of life, you香蕉视频直播檇 like to do something other than scoop litter,香蕉视频直播� Eric remarks.

Asked about price, Eric says pets go for about $1,200 to $1,500. Breeding animals cost anywhere from $3,000 to $4,500. One of the Gretzingers香蕉视频直播� most cherished sires, Wurthy, was worth $6,000.

Pam laughingly recounts how when she was a girl on a farm, people would drop off cats 香蕉视频直播� for free. But when the couple found a mouse in their former house in Fort St. John, Eric researched cats. He found Bengals 香蕉视频直播� hypoallergenic, little shedding, friendly, intelligent. And so it began.

The Gretzingers, along with Fournier and Roy-Brown, gush enthusiastically about Bengals.

They have fun personalities. They love water.

香蕉视频直播淲e have a huge walk-in shower; in the morning they come and join you,香蕉视频直播� laughs Eric.

They are smart. Sometimes too smart.

香蕉视频直播淪ometimes every time we would come home, all the cupboards would be open,香蕉视频直播� says Pam.

Pam says some people teach them how to use the toilet, although one guy regretted showing his Bengal how to flush.

香蕉视频直播淭he dog would bring stuff to the toilet, drop it in and the cat would flush,香蕉视频直播� says Eric.

Pam reiterates how glad she and Eric are to be able to help out their guests from 100 Mile.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a perfect scenario 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 so glad it worked out.香蕉视频直播�

Their guests are equally pleased.

Says Fournier: 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so generous to offer to let us stay here. Eric and Pam, they are the most generous people.香蕉视频直播�