How to choose a Bengal cat?

If you have decided you want a Bengal cat in your life, that is a good idea. However, choosing a healthy Bengal cat as your new best friend is not that straightforward. From specific information about the breed which might influence your decision to finding the right breeder, there is more that can make the process of adopting a Bengal cat a little challenging. In this article we will guide you on choosing the right Bengal cat as your new pet.

Choosing the right generation

If you want to buy a Bengal kitten, it is important to decide which breed of the generation suits you. There are two basic generation groups – the basic F1 Bengals, also called the early generation, and the SBT Bengals, Stud Book Tradition, which is a purebred Bengal at least 4 generations behind the ACL, that is, in at least 4 generations, all relatives of the animal were Bengals. All Bengal cats are similar. They have a beautiful spotted coat, slender and strong figure, cute muzzles and a delightful character. However, since earlier generations of Bengals are closer to their wild cat ancestors, the look and temperament is much like that of the Asiatic leopard cat more than is the case with the SBT Bengal. F1 

Decide what type of Bengal cat you want to purchase

There are two main types of patterns that exist within Bengals: spotted (or rosette) and marbled. The markings are different for every Bengal, but always in one of the two patterns. Bengal coat color comes in two of the most popular, brown or white (Snow Bengals) shades ranging from warm golden tones to creamy white. Some Bengals have a beautiful shimmering sheen to the coat, called glitter.

Choose a reputable breeder

You most probably must have made up your mind on what type of color excites you the most in Bengals, and now it is time to look for the right breeder. For your new kitten from the Bengal breed to be healthy and of good pedigree, you will have to look for a good cattery.

There is always so much negativity toward breeders of any kind. Even the most trustworthy Bengal sellers face the same negativity because of the large number of dishonest breeders in their background. Reputable breeders often sell their kittens as “pets only,” meaning they sell them strictly under contract. Some above-average quality kittens may be sold for exhibition or breeding purposes.

Brutal breeders give birth to kittens without any care for their future. Responsible breeders also often check on their breeding cats for genetic and health problems before breeding to ensure that the kittens they give birth to are of high quality and will be genetically healthy.

Background check

If the breeders in your list don’t have any Bengal kittens available for sale now or the particular kitten you wanted isn’t available for now, you can ask them if they know of another local breeder who can recommend an available kitten to you. This would only expand your initial list and give you a few more options to look through.

You may not get a kitten at once. Some breeders are more selective or kittens have not yet come of age and need to stay longer with them. Regardless of what, they need to have proper living conditions for their cats. If kittens come from a place where they are not properly cared for and socialized, you risk having many problems with your new pet. Such problems range from several diseases and sicknesses, which the kitten can have to get from breeders, to problematic behavior that might be later hard to correct.

Select Your Litter

Bengals are so energetic and playful-they can be a pet for this reason, but they become true monsters if one does not socialize them on time or just ignores them. On coming to a breeder, it is essential to spend some time with the parents and observe their behavior.

Of course, a Bengal cat and her kittens won’t be exactly friendly, but you’ll still manage to know if the cats are socialized and what kind of personalities they have. So, if you find one of the symptoms mentioned-above-unusual aggression, erratic behavior, or a strong odor coming from the litter box-consider that a warning sign.

While ideally this process should minimize litter health worries, do not rely solely on the new breeder you have chosen. Inquire about the vaccinations and worming records, and ask to see the genetic screening of the parents. From there, you can decide if the kittens in this particular litter are prone to a certain illness and get a totally healthy pet.

Look for their traits

While Bengals breed for common traits, no two cats will be identical. However, all pedigree purebred Bengal cats have characteristics well-made through pedigree. It would be important to check if the kittens, and by extension their parents, meet breed standards. Each cat brought to show ought to have typical characteristics such as markings and coat color, lean body, and an excellent head.

Male or female?

When you decided to buy a Bengal kitten, it can be tricky to choose only one litter, especially if you have contacted several good breeders who just happen to have available Bengal kittens. If this is the case, you should narrow it down further based on other criteria. First of all, ensure that the breeder is always willing to help. This can really make all the difference if you have a breeder you can rely on for all your needs, particularly in those first few days with your new kitten.

Selecting a Healthy Bengal Kitten

In many cases people have chosen sex of a kitten just because they had the preference for one or another, but very often there is much misinformation which influences decision-making. People often believe that females are more loyal, and males are worse on the contrary. All Bengal cats have their own character regardless of the sex. If not, then spaying/neutering as well as costs come to consideration. It is more complicated and therefore costly to neuter a female as compared to a male.

Conclusion

Choosing a Bengal cat can be challenging. However, if you follow our tips your experience will become easier. There is no doubt that the sex and other conditions of the cats would play a role in consideration as to whether or not to breed them in the future. In the end, the decision of the pet owner will matter the most.