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 mom91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渜ueens91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淎s soon as we heard about them, it was obvious,91裸聊视频� said Pam.

Adds Eric: 91裸聊视频淲e quickly cleaned the cattery 91裸聊视频� we hadn91裸聊视频檛 used it for a lot of years, and cleaned the motor home.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 cried when I walked into the motor home,91裸聊视频� remarks Fournier, standing in the cattery Saturday. 91裸聊视频淭hey were offering free to use their whole facilities. This is amazing. It91裸聊视频檚 bigger than what I have at my house. They (the cats) have only been here for a couple of days, and they91裸聊视频檙e like, 91裸聊视频榊up, we91裸聊视频檙e happy.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Although the Gretzingers haven91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频� in Texas, New York, all over North America.

91裸聊视频淲hen we91裸聊视频檇 get out at a show in New York, people would say, 91裸聊视频業s that the Canadian cat?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Eric smiles.

The couple retired to get a break from the 24/7 commitment, but they91裸聊视频檝e kept three cats as pets.

91裸聊视频淎t this time of life, you91裸聊视频檇 like to do something other than scoop litter,91裸聊视频� 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 Gretzingers91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� for free. But when the couple found a mouse in their former house in Fort St. John, Eric researched cats. He found Bengals 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲e have a huge walk-in shower; in the morning they come and join you,91裸聊视频� laughs Eric.

They are smart. Sometimes too smart.

91裸聊视频淪ometimes every time we would come home, all the cupboards would be open,91裸聊视频� says Pam.

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

91裸聊视频淭he dog would bring stuff to the toilet, drop it in and the cat would flush,91裸聊视频� says Eric.

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

91裸聊视频淚t was a perfect scenario 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 so glad it worked out.91裸聊视频�

Their guests are equally pleased.

Says Fournier: 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 so generous to offer to let us stay here. Eric and Pam, they are the most generous people.91裸聊视频�