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The first thing a prospective owner must ask themselves is why they want to acquire a Bengal? You may want to purchase your Bengal to be a treasured household pet, or you may be considering showing or breeding your Bengal. Do you prefer a male or a female kitten, or will either do? Perhaps you wish to acquire an older matured cat that will settle quietly into your household. You should consider your needs carefully before contacting a breeder to ensure that you obtain the right cat for your circumstances. This will also help determine whether or not a breeder has any suitable kittens for you to view.
The domestic Bengal must be at least four generations removed from it's wild ancestors to be considered a true pet Bengal. The F1, F2 or F3 generation Bengals are considered foundation stock and may not always be suitable for keeping as pets as they are not always entirely domesticated. Foundation Bengals are best left to the experts and breeders.
While you are giving this decision some thought, it is worth bearing in mind that while each Bengal's personality is different, Bengals are considered to be a foreign cat. They are lively, active, boisterous, mischievous and attention seekers. They are also in my experience, extremely loving, intelligent and affectionate. You should make absolutely certain that the Bengal will be the right choice for you before embarking on your pursuit for your Bengal cat.
Contact a Breed Club...
Once you have given everything serious thought and you are certain that you want to take the plunge, the next step will be to contact a Bengal Breed club that can put you in touch with a reputable breeder in your area. You will want to ensure that you obtain a healthy, vaccinated and insured kitten from a breeder that would have cared properly for your kitten during the first three months of it's life.
The main GCCF affiliated Bengal Breed clubs in the UK are the Bengal Cat Club, the Bengal Cat Club of Great Britain and the Ocicat and Bengal Cat Club. These clubs are dedicated to the welfare of the Bengal and will be able to advise you on your choice of breeder.
Visit Several Breeders...
Once you've been advised by the breed club on breeders, the next important step is to visit several of them. This will give you a good idea of what Bengal cats and kittens look like. Breeders are all striving for different things in their breeding program and by visiting more than one, you will be able to see which type of kitten you prefer. For instance, one breeder may have glittered or rosetted kittens while another may have kittens with excellent conformation or even Snow kittens.
Whichever breeder's kittens you choose, it is imperative that the kittens are healthy and well socialised. Breeders that bring up their kittens in a home environment will usually have kittens that settle quicker into their new home environment. You should also choose a breeder that you trust and feel comfortable with. The relationship between the purchaser and the breeder should not end after the kitten is sold. You may wish to contact your breeder afterwards for advice on your new kitten, and a good breeder will be keen to know how the kitten is doing in it's new home. This is why a good rapport between purchaser and breeder is important.
Which Kitten or cat?
After visiting several breeders, you will have a good idea of the Bengal cat's personality. If at this stage you've fallen in love with the Bengal's temperament, you will want to choose your kitten.
Whether you are buying your Bengal as a pet, showcat or for breeding, you should choose a kitten that is healthy with shiny fur and eyes and a clean bottom. Your kitten should also be friendly, active and socialised. It is very important to see the kitten's mother and living quarters. The mother should be healthy and a true representative of the Bengal breed. Mother and kittens should also have a clean living environment. If you are choosing your kitten for showing or breeding, let the breeder advice you by pointing out the individual qualities in the kittens.
Whichever Bengal you choose, you must ensure that you receive a GCCF pedigree, vaccination certificates and insurance certificates from your breeder. A reputable breeder will also not allow a kitten to go to it's new home until at least 13 weeks of age. You can expect to pay anything from £350 for a pet Bengal to £800 or more for a top show or breeding quality Bengal kitten.
It is also worth considering obtaining two Bengals from your breeder as two cats will always have a constant playmate especially if you will be out of the home all day. As an experienced Bengal owner, I can highly recommend this beautiful, loving, majestic breed of cat.
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