Susan K. Lamb, Democrat Managing Editor
It's not often a cat becomes the best in the world but Larry Snider is becoming used to having the best Bengal cat in the world living in his home.
That's right, Snider, cat lover, granddad, entrepreneur and avid showman at cat shows all over, has achieved the ultimate in catdom. Or shall we say, his beautiful Bengal cat, Fudge Ripple, has done it with a little help from Snider.
The International Cat Association's 2004-05 International Best of Breed Bengal in the World is IWSGC Suwannee Fudge Ripple, a Bengal male cat bred at Snider's home in rural Suwannee county and hand-raised lovingly by Snider.
Snider said Ripple got his name rightfully. When the cat was seven weeks old, Snider turned the litter loose in his living room to watch them play while he enjoyed a bowl of fudge ripple ice cream. "He went nuts trying to get some ice cream, and it was Fudge Ripple ice cream!" Snider laughs. Thus, the name Fudge Ripple. And, Snider said, it's that name and the cat's coloring and demeanor that has made Ripple known throughout the country. "When I arrived at a show in Texas recently one of the participants asked me if I had brought Fudge Ripple!" Snider said. Snider said the cat's popularity at the shows has not only made the cat well-known, but Suwannee County has been put on the cat world's map because everyone knows he's from Live Oak in Suwannee County, Florida.
A cream and brown Bengal cat, better known as Ripple, became the number one TICA International Best of Breed Bengal this year. TICA has shows all over Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland and had one in Israel last year.
Snider will host a party at the TICA annual show in Syracuse, NY on Labor Day weekend to honor the cat which has achieved the highest status in TICA's Bengal show he can achieve. Snider said it's tradition for the owner or breeder of the world champion to host a cake and ice cream party at this event. Of course, says Snider, the choice of flavor for the ice cream will be Fudge Ripple!
Snider said he recently went to the South Central Regional Show and Awards Banquet in Arlington, Texas, where he was awarded a certificate making him an honorary member of the South Central region that includes Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico and Costa Rica. Snider said it was a real honor and only a few of these honorary memberships have been given.
Snider has been breeding cats since 1995 and entering shows as far as west Texas, New York and areas in the North and in the South. Snider showed Ripple in 30 shows this year and last year and the cat was the top Bengal in 28 of the 30 shows.
"Bengal is probably the most popular breed at the shows, which means there are probably more of them entered than in any other category," Snider stated.
"I never dreamed in my life to have the number one Bengal and for him to be a snow marble...I just never imagined," Snider said this week.
"When Ripple won, he was at the Safari Show where the cream of the crop is shown from all over the world....182 Bengals showed......everyone one of them the top of the line," Snider said.. "They give ribbons to the top 10 cats in each of three rings...when it was over and done, Fudge Ripple won!" Snider said.
Ripple's breed is not the cuddly type, but he has a personality that attracts people and the champ loves to go to the shows. "He shows in my lap most of the time rather than in a cage," Snider said. "Some cats are just natural born showmen."
Snider describes Ripple as a snow Bengal. "He's a seal mink....he's the first "snow" Bengal in the world to ever be number one in TICA," Snider said. "Spectators come by his cage at the show and they've never seen one like him and they just googly-eye him because they've never seen anything like that," Snider said.
Snider has had 17 regional winners but most of them are rescue alley cats. But, Ripple's a pure-bred, one of the 48 recognized breeds of cats. Snider owns the mother... Greenmansion Woodrose of Suwannee and the father...Wildsafari Glacier of Suwannee. "Ripple has literally put Live Oak and Suwannee County on the map because his name is constantly out there," Larry brags.
Snider is involved with the Florida Bengal Rescue which is part of the worldwide rescue group. He says often there are rescued Bengals available to go to selected homes. He's also a member of the International Bengal Cat Society for Bengal breeders and owners. You can learn more by going to www.bengalcat.com or to www.suwanneebengals.net
Susan K. Lamb may be reached by calling 1-386-362-1734 ext. 131 or by emailing susan.lamb@gaflnews.com.
