Max Domi's Snow Bengals
We are thrilled that professional hockey player Max Domi is the proud pet parent of Leo & Hugh, Snow Bengals from MandysBengals!
One of our customers is Max Domi, a Canadian professional hockey player of the National Hockey League (NHL), currently a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but has also played with the Montreal Canadiens, Colombus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars.
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Max is the son Tahir "Tie" Domi a famous Canadian former professional ice hockey player. If you follow hockey, you would have known him as the enforcer when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Max was never a “cat guy” but was undoubtedly a pet lover and grew up with a family dog. Bengal cats came onto his radar during a vacation to the Turks & Caicos in 2021 when he encountered two cats on the beach. He was surprised they were affectionate, and he instantly bonded with them. That same night a post of a Bengal Cat appeared on his Instagram feed and it was love at first sight.
*Source: Chicago Sun-Times
It was then that his agent reached out to us and inquired about adopting a Bengal. Max had already decided on a snow-coloured Bengal, which caused some friendly competition with a fellow hockey professional player named Nick Suzuki, a forward for the Montreal Canadians, who had already adopted a Snow Bengal, teasing Max that it was he who inspired him to get a Bengal. You can see the video HERE.
In June 2021, a Snow Bengal named Leo from Mandy's Bengals became the newest member of the Domi family. He was a perfect fit and instantly became the family's baby. Leo is a Snow Lynx Bengal with sky-blue puppy-dog eyes and a silky, glittery white coat with beautiful rosettes. He has his own Instagram page HERE.
Max had to say this about adopting Leo: “It was a very impulse buy but one of the best buys of all time.” He describes Leo as thinking he is a dog, not a cat, and loves being in the company of his four-legged friends but always lets them know who the boss is.
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​This is fortunate since Max has an exceptional dog in his life. Orion, a yellow Lab, became Domi’s shadow when he entered the NHL in 2015. Domi was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 12 years old and needed a dog to help monitor his diabetes.
Orion, capable of detecting low blood sugar via smell, will wake Domi up at night if his levels fall below a certain threshold. Domi told the Chicago Sun-Times that Orion was especially helpful during his rookie NHL season.
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“When I was at a dinner, at a movie, on a plane, wherever it may have been, and he was with me, he’d alert me,” he said. “I would know I was low, and I could treat it before I was in a major situation. What he could do was fascinating."​ Orion’s unique abilities are no longer as necessary, but Max still considers him his best friend. Orion has his own Instagram page HERE.
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Domi is actively involved with juvenile diabetes awareness and fundraising and also published a book called "No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes"
You can view it HERE.
In June of 2024, Max decided to adopt a second Bengal while on vacation in Italy.
With Orion getting older and Leo still full of energy and a desire for play, Max thought it was time to get him a playmate.
Then along came baby Hugh from Mandy's Bengals. A rare and exotic silver-snow sepia-coloured Bengal kitten who steals the heart of all who lay eyes on him. He is beyond cute, and it isn't just his handsomeness; he also has a fun and loving personality.
Hugh instantly bonded with his big brother Leo and has been attached to his hip ever since. The interesting thing about Leo and Hugh is that they are related, with Leo being Hugh's Uncle. We don't think either of them knows that, but it's a cool fact nevertheless!
We are thrilled that Hugh and Leo have found their forever home with the Domi family. They are such loving and caring pet parents, and we couldn't think of a better home for them. Leo and Hugh are living their best lives as sports celebrity cats and doing what Bengals do best, offering love and companionship and tons of ongoing entertainment or what we Bengal Cat People call: Shenanigans! ​
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​See Hugh the Bengal Cat in the news here:
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Follow Max on Instagram HERE
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