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How big do Bengal Cats get?

Bengals can range in size, most of the time depending upon the sex and bloodline of the cat.  Female bengals are relatively smaller ranging from 9-13lbs.  However, I have had a female that was as big as one of my males.  The males are usually when grown are very muscular ranging between 11-18lbs.  Their size can vary depending upon the bloodline.  My "Zimbabwe" weighs 21lbs, which is unusually big for a bengal.  Each bloodline produces a vast ray of size and musculature.

What is the temperament of the Bengal?

The Bengal Cat has a happy, active, interactive and extremely intelligent personality.  Every domestic cat breed has it's unique features, and the exotic heritage of the Bengal can be seen in their every day activities.  A Bengal will happily search out a lap or stretch out on the sofa next to you during naptime, even though they are active the rest of the day.

Bengals are extremely playful and most have a natural love for water.  A lot depends on how your bengal was raised will help determine the temperament.  I believe 90% of the temperament of the bengal is the way they are raised which is why I strongly encourage people when looking for a Bengal to visit the cattery and interact with the breeder as well as their cats.  It is important to see and "feel" the environment your new kitten is coming from.  If your kitten is coming from a "warm" cattery with a lot of love and attention then you will get a warm kitten who is not skittish and loves affection.  He will no doubt greet friends and family at the door.  If your kitten is coming from a "cold" cattery environment with less interaction then your chances of having a skittish or standoffish kitten have increase tremendously. 

I guess I feel so strongly about this because I was burnt when I was a pet owner,   My third Bengal was bought over the internet.  Yes he was very beautiful, but I couldn't touch him.  He would hide until it was time for his wet food and then he would venture out after the room was clear.  I tried everything to get him to come around, but he still would not let us touch him.  However, the older he no longer shied away when you tried to pick him up, he then began to strike at you.   I later found out that he was raised in an outside cattery.  Hands on love shapes your bengal into a prized companion.  Please visit breeders!!

Are Bengals Intelligent?

Bengals are very intelligent and usually learn things really quick.  Many Bengals like to play in water, you might even find them in the bath with you or catching fish in your aquarium.  Bengals love to walk on a leash and play fetch with you.  However, a lot of this depends on the individual personality and your interaction with your bengals.

Will my new kitten get along with my other cat, dog, or small children?

My daughter has a mastiff and whenever she comes over of course the kittens scatter, but they are not hidden out of site.  They sit and watch from their tree, which is a good sign because they are not cowering away.  They are still very curious. 

A slow and easy introduction is the best route for introducing the new kitten into your household.   Having a separate room prepared with food, water, litter-pan, bed and toys will safely allow resident pets time to adjust to the intriguing smells of a new feline in their home as well as letting your new kitten adjust to their new environment.  I would suggest you keeping him/her in this area for about 1-2 weeks until your kitten is comfortable with his/her surroundings.  Change of environment can sometimes be very stressful for a little kitten and cause other problems. 

I have three grandchildren who range from 6 months to 5 years old and they are always picking up the kittens and I have never had a kitten or cat strike out at my grandchildren.  Just as you would with any other pet, you have to monitor your very small children to make sure they don't hurt the kitten.  Our two year old grandson can sometimes get too rough or handle them improperly.

What should I expect to pay for a Bengal?

The price of a Bengal depends on many different factors.  The breeder's reputation, small imperfections the kitten has when compared to the Bengal Breed Standard, early spay/neuter and show versus pet quality are all elements that come into play when discussing the various prices of a Bengal.  A pet quality kitten from a responsible breeder may run $500 to $1,000.  Sometimes, an exquisite show quality kitten may be placed as an altered pet for a portion of the breeder's regular price.

It is vitally important to obtain a kitten from a TIBCS reputable breeder who has signed a strict code of ethics and will provide written adoption contracts and health guarantees.  Usually the breeder will guarantee against congenital defects for a designated period of time.  Most breeders have you take the kitten to your veterinarian within a few days after adoption to confirm the kitten's health.  During this time period, the kitten can usually be returned in trade for another kitten if there is any problem.

A reputable breeder will belong to a registering domestic cat association such as TICA or ACFA and a breed club such as TIBCS.  Reputable breeders are working towards a common goal of 'perfecting' the Bengal breed and do not just breed pet quality kittens to sell into irresponsible hands.

Can I find a less expensive quality Bengal?

Remember, "You get what you paid for" and "if it sounds too good to be true it usually is".  While these little saying may sound silly when it's applied to our beautiful Bengal.  It takes a lot of time and money to bring in good bloodlines and insure your customer is getting a healthy kitten and the price of the kittens reflect a lot of that.  However their are retired queen or studs or a kitten that is healthy, but may have some small birth defect and these kittens/cats will be for a lower amount.  Ask lots of questions.

The Kitten to the right in the Circle is “Kenny” a flat-chested kitten born here at ABEO.  The Echart family was visiting with the kitten that they were purchasing and one of the children fell in love with this little flat chested boy who wouldn’t get off her lap.  She kept asking her mom and Dad, “can we get this one too”.  I told her if her parents said okay she could have him.  She called me a couple hours after they left and asked if she could still have him.  He is now 9 months old and lives with his new family, the Echarts and his two Bengal playmates. 

At what age should my kitten be altered?  Must it be?

Definitely yes!  When a cat is altered they make more loving pets.  TIBCS responsible breeders generally have a spay/neuter contract that requires you to spay/neuter your kitten before a they are 7 months and they will withhold registration papers until receiving an official veterinary documentation of proof of altering.  Some breeders will spay/neuter before they leave home, because some vets will spay/neuter a kitten as long as they are at least 2lbs.

My Altered Pet - Zimbabwe

What is Glitter?

Glitter is gold specks on the tip of the fur or silver specks on the tip of a silver Bengal or a snow.  Usually it can be seen when he/she is in the sunlight or under some form of lighting.   

What are Rosettes?

Some Bengal patterns (Both the spotted and the marbled) have inherited striking rosettes or spots that are open in the centers and sometimes made up of a third color different from the ground color or the outline color in the center.  This is usually found in the Asian Leopard Cats and other wild cat species.  Rosettes can come in different patterns such as arrowhead rosettes, doughnut and half doughnut shape, paw print shaped, or clusters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Marbling?

The second Bengal pattern is called marble. This is created by the combination of rosettes from the Asian Leopard Cat and the domestic classic tabby pattern to produce a "marbleized" look, one or more colors swirled into the base colors.  Another beautiful color is the snow Bengal's resembling the snow leopard.   They can also be a spotted or marble pattern like the brown bengals.

What is the "Fuzz Uglies?

Bengal kittens go through what we call the “fuzzy uglies”.   A kitten at three week who is just beautiful will begin to become ticky looking.  It is said that a Bengal develops this when it is time to explore to camouflage themselves from predators.  Some breeders believe this is part of the wild trait that they have inherited.  Their coat usually begins to clear up at about 12 weeks with a much clearer contrast and is totally breathtakingly awesome at about 6 months.