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Buying a Bengal
When you are buying any pedigree kitten, do
beware of unscrupulous and uncaring dealers in kittens, and those who just
don’t understand the needs of cats.
We hear of all sorts of horror stories of people
buying ‘cheap’ kittens that turn out to be Bengal crosses (non-Bengals in
the pedigree), or even moggies. And
stories of kittens and cats that have health and behaviour problems.
Just recently we have heard of a couple who are
‘trading’ in kittens – buying them off of breeders, and then selling them
on to unsuspecting buyers at a higher price.
So please beware when buying your Bengal kitten:
It doesn’t matter how small or how large the
cattery is, the same checks always apply:
1. Do
the kittens look healthy and happy, and are they kept in in a clean and
warm environment.
2. The
dam (and if at the same cattery, then also the sire) should also look
healthy and happy – always ask to see at least the dam (the sire may come
from a different cattery).
3. You
should get a minimum of a three generation pedigree with your kitten –
check the pedigree before you buy, and if there are cats in the pedigree
that are not Bengals, then ensure you understand the implications of this,
especially if you want to breed or show your cat.
4. Your
kitten should be registered with one of the official governing bodies (e.g.
GCCF, TICA)
5. The
kitten must be vaccinated against, as a minimum, cat flu and feline
enteritis (in the UK), before you pick it up. Make sure your kitten has had both it’s
first jab and it’s booster. Make
sure you get the vaccination certificate.
6. The
breeder should not let you have the kitten until it is 13 weeks of age –
this is part of the Code of Conduct for most cat fancies.
7. Read
about the Bengal – understand it’s characteristics, both in the way it
should look, and behave. There is
lots of information on the internet, and quite a bit on our own
website. Make sure that the
character of the Bengal is what you want, as well as it’s looks.
8.
Be honest with the breeder – do not say you
are buying a kitten as a pet if you intend to breed from it. Only the healthiest and strongest kittens
are suitable for breeding – so don’t settle for second best.
9.
And
finally – if you are thinking of breeding yourself, please do take advice
from more than one person (not just the person selling you the kitten!)
BEFORE you buy. Make sure you get
the right cat for you – one that will give you the kittens with the colours
and patterns that you want. And
please remember that studs need at least two, but preferrably three girls
to keep them happy.
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Girl
1 (right) is SOLD
Girl
2 (left) is available as a breeding queen
The boy (right)
is available as a pet or as a stud.