Bengal Nose - a comparison between a good nose and an affected nose - photo copyright Helmi Flick
Bengal Nose refers to a condition, which is a dry, crackly nose leather reported by breeders and in a research paper. It is not as far as I am aware a medical term. The nose leather (for people not in the cat fancy) is the end of the nose for a cat. Some breeders think the condition is caused by an incorrect diet in which there is a shortage of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). In that case rubbing vitamin E oil on the nose alleviates the condition. At least one vet diagnosed it as a food allergy, which was cleared up by a change in diet incorporating a different protein level.
However, a research article emanating from Sweden tells a different story. Diet may be a factor but there are other causes. There is also the question as to whether this condition is inherited from the Asian Leopard cat, the wild cat ancestor to the Bengal cat. For the time being, it is the research paper that tells us something about this disease. Perhaps more work is required? Or more cat breeder input.
The research was self funded and is entitled, "A novel ulcerative nasal dermatitis of Bengal cats" - Author: K. Bergvall. The author refers to the condition as a unique dermatitis that affects Swedish Bengal cats. It, in fact, seems to affect non-Swedish Bengal cats too. The work was carried out on 48 cats over the period 1999-2003. This is many years ago and it surprises me that it has only now being talked about. Perhaps I (and others) were unaware of it but breeders (or some breeders) were aware of it and didn't discuss it. How prevalent is it? Not sure, but of the 48 cats presented to the researcher 6 had crusts, fissures, erosions and ulcers of the nasal planum. That represents 12.5% of the total. The current percentage may be lower. Planum means "A plane or flat surface". Nasal means "pertaining to the nose". That doesn't exactly tell me the area we are talking about but as it is the nose leather (info from breeders - above) it must refer to the flat surface at the end of the cat's nose.
The condition was found to start at 4 months to 1 year of age. Antibiotics did not work. Salicylic acid improved the lesions in one of two cats treated. Prednisolone (a synthetic steroid similar to hydrocortisone - it is used as and anti-inflammatory drug and is a immunosuppressive drug) proved effective in curing one cat and partially cured another. Steroids are, as far as I am aware, a last resort in treatments as they can cause side effects. Some breeders wouldn't consider steroids to be suitable to control this condition, for an otherwise healthy kitten.
The most successful drug in treating "Bengal Nose" was Tacrolimus ointment. This is an immunosuppressive drug used with corticosteroids to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs in humans. This drug decreased the lesions in 4 cats. Lesion means "discontinuity of tissue". In this case it means that the nose leather is not cut but made up of broken tissue as a result of the condition.
The researcher speculated that it was an inherited disease and one linked to the immune system of the cat. Cat breeding cat lead to defective immune systems and higher levels of ill health in purebred cats. It is well known that purebreds generally live shorter lives that Moggies, on average. Inbreeding depression is a description of immune system malfunction or an immune system not working to full effect. Bengal Nose may be linked, therefore, to inbreeding in Bengal cats but this is pure speculation by me. It is, though, recognized that the Bengal breed has been developed from a small number of founding individual cats. Also the fact that the problem has no known environmental or dietary cause (i.e. it cuts across a variety of circumstances) and does not respond well to usual medication except as described above indicates a genetic illness.
There is no reference to it in Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Fully Revised and Updated
It there anyone who can shed light on Bengal Nose?
Definitions from www.thefreedictionary.com
I got my Bengal from a breeder here in Ontario-she’s gotten out of it since. He’s had Bengal Nose since I got him at about 12 weeks. Bouts of gastrointestinal distress eventually led me to a great local vet who diagnosed Lupus. Algonquin Animal Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario is where I take my boy. I also have Lupus and the vet said they’ve seen owners and cats with similar illnesses. My Bengal has been on oral steroid medication every second day for several years now. I use the liquid form as it is easier to get the dosage exact and avoid flare-ups. He gets .25 ml every second day. As long as the steroid is not missed his gastro problem is kept at bay. The oral steroid has had no effect on his Bengal nose. He loves to have me clean his nose with tepid water and Q-tips and will jump up on the bathroom vanity and meow it’s time to fix his nose. I often also then put on a steroid cream – the same I use for my face when my Lupus rash flares. In winter I keep the humidity up to 36% and this also helps a lot. It’s a prescription cream I get from my doctor so there’re no ‘extra’ ingredients. He is also on a prescription diet (Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Moderate Calorie diet). The diet really helps his tummy and any attempt to change it has been met with flare-ups. My beloved Bengal will be 7 years old this May and I adore him. He has videos up on YouTube and you can be seen him under my channel: Remedy Farm. Any others who have Bengals with Bengal Nose are welcome to contact me through my YouTube channel. Perhaps increasing awareness of this condition will help the cats.
Thanks Erica for visiting and a very informative and useful comment. You both have lupus. Is the lupus and Bengal Nose connected (the same cause – immune system defect). It is charming that your cat likes to have his nose sorted out and cleaned up. Smart boy. I am sorry, though, to hear that he has a stomach illness that is incurable. Permanent steroids seems to be a last resort treatment. Pleased it works though.