BENGAL INFORMATION
BUYING A BENGAL KITTEN
Only buy from a reputable breeder who is registered with either the GCCF, Fife or Tica. It is also advised to visit the breeder to view the facilities and also to meet the parents of the kitten you are interested in. You will get an idea of the temperament of the cats and see that they are friendly and sociable. If there is no one home during the day, a single Bengal is not for you as they are very sociable and like a lot of interaction. Getting two would be a very good idea in this situation, as they love company. A good way of introducing yourself to the world of pedigree cats is by visiting a cat show where you will be able to see many Bengals amongst the 500 or so cats on show. You will also be able to meet and talk to breeders who will be only too pleased to answer any of your questions about the breed. You will not be able to buy a kitten at a cat show! You will find a list of GCCF cat shows around the country here: http://www.gccfcats.org/showsnew.html
Make sure that you are given official registration papers with your kitten. This is the only way that you can be sure that your kitten is a 100% pedigree Bengal cat and not the result of a crossing between a Bengal with another breed or a moggy. It will also give you piece of mind that your new kitten has not been bred by a ‘back yard breeder’, who may have bought a pet Bengal cats on the pretext to the breeder of intention to neuter but instead, going against the breeders wishes and breeding from them. These are NOT reputable breeders and should be avoided at all costs. The Bengals they are breeding are most probably of inferior quality and not a good example of the breed and my well be diseased and unsocialised. Obtaining Registration papers with your new kitten will be proof that the kitten's sire (father) and dam (mother) are registered Bengal cats and are of breeding quality. You will also be required to have registration papers if you intend to show your cat, as you will not be allowed to enter cat shows without them. You will also receive the kitten’s pedigree certificate, which will show you three, four or more generations of the kitten’s parentage. You can see further information about all these points if you visit the website of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, the cat equivalent of the Kennel Club. Find them at www.gccfcats.org
Reputable breeders only let their kittens go to new homes after the age of 13 weeks. They should come to you with a vaccination certificate signed by a Vet, and clear instructions about the care and feeding of your new kitten. Most breeders also include four weeks free insurance with a company such as Pet Plan or Agria. Caring breeders love to know how your kitten is settling into it’s new home, so please keep in touch with little snippets of news and photos!
It is wise to neuter your kitten between four to six months of age. Unless you have bought your Bengal on the Active Register, (which means your kitten is registered for breeding and any progeny can be registered), your kitten will be on the Non-Active Register. If you bought your kitten on the Non-Active Register your breeder will insist that it is neutered at the appropriate time and most will expect you to sign a contract ensuring that this is done. Some breeders early neuter their kittens at just a few weeks old before they leave for their new home to ensure that they are not bred from and the buyer therefore paying only the pet price instead of the full price for a breeding quality kitten. Early neutering is quite a point of contention and I must admit, though not an advocate of it myself, by all accounts it is harmless and stress free to kittens.
Many reputable breeders advertise in free ad papers. BUT - be warned, this is also the only way many 'back yard breeders' sell their kittens.
Make sure that you are given official registration papers with your kitten. This is the only way that you can be sure that your kitten is a 100% pedigree Bengal cat and not the result of a crossing between a Bengal with another breed or a moggy. It will also give you piece of mind that your new kitten has not been bred by a ‘back yard breeder’, who may have bought a pet Bengal cats on the pretext to the breeder of intention to neuter but instead, going against the breeders wishes and breeding from them. These are NOT reputable breeders and should be avoided at all costs. The Bengals they are breeding are most probably of inferior quality and not a good example of the breed and my well be diseased and unsocialised. Obtaining Registration papers with your new kitten will be proof that the kitten's sire (father) and dam (mother) are registered Bengal cats and are of breeding quality. You will also be required to have registration papers if you intend to show your cat, as you will not be allowed to enter cat shows without them. You will also receive the kitten’s pedigree certificate, which will show you three, four or more generations of the kitten’s parentage. You can see further information about all these points if you visit the website of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, the cat equivalent of the Kennel Club. Find them at www.gccfcats.org
Reputable breeders only let their kittens go to new homes after the age of 13 weeks. They should come to you with a vaccination certificate signed by a Vet, and clear instructions about the care and feeding of your new kitten. Most breeders also include four weeks free insurance with a company such as Pet Plan or Agria. Caring breeders love to know how your kitten is settling into it’s new home, so please keep in touch with little snippets of news and photos!
It is wise to neuter your kitten between four to six months of age. Unless you have bought your Bengal on the Active Register, (which means your kitten is registered for breeding and any progeny can be registered), your kitten will be on the Non-Active Register. If you bought your kitten on the Non-Active Register your breeder will insist that it is neutered at the appropriate time and most will expect you to sign a contract ensuring that this is done. Some breeders early neuter their kittens at just a few weeks old before they leave for their new home to ensure that they are not bred from and the buyer therefore paying only the pet price instead of the full price for a breeding quality kitten. Early neutering is quite a point of contention and I must admit, though not an advocate of it myself, by all accounts it is harmless and stress free to kittens.
Many reputable breeders advertise in free ad papers. BUT - be warned, this is also the only way many 'back yard breeders' sell their kittens.
Click on the link below to read an article I wrote as a warning to prospective kitten purchasers: