Ravi, a Brown Spotted Bengal
male...looks to be very close to his Asian Leopard Cat ancestor -
Helmi's description
Bengal
cats for sale has taken on a new meaning in the
UK, where they are being targeted by criminal gangs, stolen
and sold back to their owners for £1,000 to
£100,000 (according to the press - at Spring 2007). At any
one time, apparently, there are 120 missing (in the UK).
A Foundation Bengal was sold in England for over
$40,000.00 in 1998, then a world record for a cat's value apparently.
In Jan.
2005 4 F1 kittens went on sale at £80,000 (GPD) each
- astonishing. Lord Gay was the seller/breeder. Times have changed
somewhat.
The prices at mid 2007 for a nice show quality cat
will
probably cost about $2,500 - $5,000+. Pet prices run to about $650
-$1,250. You
get what you pay for. For a healthy, well bred and socialized Bengal
cat, the price should be around $1,000. Click
here to read about Bengaland a renown
Bengal cattery and see some pictures too.
Jean Mill in the USA founded
the breed in 1975 by crossing an Asian
Leopard cat, a small shy forest dwelling leopard cat weighing
around 8 to 10lbs (some say 10-15lbs, check out the link to see how the
discrepancy may have come about) with beautiful markings, to a domestic
cat. You can read more about these interesting beginning years of Jean
Mill's development of this breed and my
criticism of her work (yes, I know I'll be in trouble). The
objective was to create a sociable domestic cat with the appearance of
the leopard. Jean Mill, as I understand it is now retired.
The Bengal cat is still being developed. Have a
look at the work of a renown breeder, Julie
Gracie Moseley who runs ZenDada Bengals. You'll see some
great pics and information about marbled Bengals.
Apart from their beautiful appearance which is so
finely captured in Helmi Flick's photographs on
this page (and in the photos
of Dania and Martin Burtscher), three things immediately come
to mind that stand out about this rare and much desired cat.
Firstly, and this may surprise some readers, the
Bengal cat is still legally (at a technical level) considered to be a
wild animal in the UK under The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. As a
result it requires a license in the UK. You can read about this anomaly
by
clicking on this link.
Secondly, and this is my opinion having played
with a Bengal cat, they have a level of inquisitiveness and athleticism
that is noticeably above the level of a typical domestic cat. This
is to be expected and admired. It is a characteristic that "goes with
the territory" of a hybrid cat of this type and which makes them
"Bengal cats for sale".
Incidentally, the Asian Leopard defecates in water
and this sometimes carries
through to SBT (Stud Book Tradition - at least 4 generations
from ALC of Bengal to Bengal breeding) Bengals, who may prefer to go to
the toilet in the sink, toilet or showers.
You get the wonderful coat, the character and
behavior; but with these characteristics comes an added responsibility
for the human. To use legal language, a higher duty of care is demanded
of the human in caring for a Bengal cat (that's purely my opinion).
Thirdly, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the
premier and largest registry of pure bred breeds in the world and based
in the USA, do not agree to register the Bengal cat.
Bengal
Cat Rescue - a detailed appraisal of the best alternative to
looking for Bengal Cats for sale
A first generation cross is known as an F1. An F2
is the progeny of one F1 parent and one domestic parent (normally
another Bengal cat these days).
click here
Although the public will usually adopt/buy an SBT
(at least 4 generations from wild), some people would prefer to adopt
an F2 as they are to them less like your average cat and more "special"
or outstanding. Lord Gray said F2s make good pets and have that wild
(desirable) look. By the fourth generation the cats are considered
domestic and can be called a Bengal cat. Apparently the most valuable
Bengals and the "Bengal cats for sale" are the F1s. A well known
breeder says that F1s are not vicious and wild. Although more work is
required to handle them and to get used to them. Sometimes they can
exhibit what some would consider "weird
behavior". F1's are not suitable
for families. A litter of 4 was valued at £60,000 to
£80,000 apparently! (but see above). Times have
changed
because Bengal cats are no longer as rare as they were.
The Bengal cat has
a little bit more of the wild in him than most domestic cats. It is
this, which is charming about this breed. Click on the link below to
read and see more about wild and domesticated animals.
AnimalCorner - Animals are
our main interest and here you can learn about different animals from
all over the planet. We feature pets, wildlife, insects, sea life, farm
animals, Galapagos wildlife, Rainforest animals and Reptiles. We also
cover endangered species, Venomous Animals and have a regular Creature
Feature.
Bengal cats for sale have a wonderful temperament.
Bengals are affectionate, attentive, outgoing, playful, quick,
intelligent, confident, and inquisitive about everything. And they can
run very fast....They like to create games and are quick to make the
owner play the game of the moment with them. Bengals are extremely
curious about anything new brought home, whatever it is.
It is worth noting that they are not afraid of
water (correction, the majority like it, some have a bath with their
human
partner) and they like to play in it, sometimes. Bengal cats get along
wonderfully with
regular domestic cats and dogs.
In a study published on or about September 2007 it
was
concluded that Bengal cats do not have more behavioral problems than
other breeds. Thereby de-bunking any misconceptions that Bengals
present problems to their owners. The study was carried out with the
assistance of Californian rescue centers. However, a Bengal cat does it
seems behave a little differently to your usual domestic cat. Read more
about behavior by
clicking on this link. You might
consider a
rescue cat rather than Bengal cats for sale. There aren't
many though (a good sign).
The litter of SGC Bengaland Cheetera and QCH
Medoz Candyman - Bengaland cattery
Health - No breed specific health problems were reported until recently, when
the occurence of HCM (a heart disease) has been reported.
When you buy or adopt, I would ask for the results of a veterinarian
test
certifying that the cat you are adopting is free of this disease. It is
a fatal disease.
All good breeders will have this test done be they
Bengal cat breeders or breeders of other breeds. You can read more
about the scurge of this heart disease by clicking on this link. I have also recently discovered that another inherited disease may affect a Bengal Cat - Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This disease, like HCM also affects people. Read more about PRA and Bengal cats. It also affects Persians and Abyssinians. I don't know the frequency of occurence.
Bengal Cats may be leopard spotted, rosetted, or
marbled. A cat is registered as a "spotted tabby", even if it has
rosettes. See below for lots more about the coat (there's a lot to
know).
Accepted Bengal colors are: brown tabby, snow,
silver, and silver snow. The snow Bengal colors are seal lynx point,
seal sepia tabby, and seal mink tabby.
Like all cat lovers I was upset by the fact that
these
wonderful cats are being stolen and becoming "Bengal cats for sale" to
their owners. There's another potential "downside" in producing such a
hybrid cat; what of the effects on the wildcat population. Read about
it here.
There are three types (a) Seal Mink (b) Seal Sepia
(c) Seal Lynx Point.
Breeders first developed the Seal Lynx Point. This
cat has the color point gene, which is recessive and which is from the
Siamese cat. This type of Bengal has blue eyes. By the 1980s the
Burmese was out crossed with Bengal cats producing darker Snow Bengals;
the Seal Mink and the Seal Sepia being the darkest. You can verify type
and lineage courtesy University of California DNA testing.
A young looking George Clooney and Bengal
cat both stared in the film "One Fine Day" the cat got top billing
Celebs and Bengals is a winning
combination.
There is no doubting their popularity amongst cat
lovers and the rich and famous. For, example, Jemima Khan
got into the news again when she lost (or were they
stolen and about to become Bengal cats for sale?) her 2 Bengal cats,
one of which at least was given to her by Hugh Grant. Read
this story here. Then you've got the reformed frontman to the
band "Darkness", Justin Hawkins, who adores Bengal
cats and now lives with three (and they do him the world of good no
doubt...:-)..). Read
that story here.
And it doesn't stop there. A lot of really famous
people live with Bengal cats. They carry them around town in pet bags
or walk with them on leashes (this seems to be not uncommon in the
USA). In addition to the above celebs it has been reported that Nicole
Richie, Paris Hilton, Laila
Ali, Lord Archer, Jonathan Ross, Kevin Bacon are all Bengal
cat owners. You can see why the phrase Bengal cats for sale sums up the
situation regarding this cat.
Peoples' Facts (or thoughts)
These section contains information from "Joe Public" who are cat lovers
and who know cats....
ALLERGY As for any cat the Bengal may be allergic to
vaccinations. You can find out by staying at the vets after the
injection and waiting half an hour to see if a reaction happens. A vet
can give a pre-vaccination shot.
CHEWING FUR Does your Bengal
eat false fur or paper? If yes it could be because the paper makes a
noise (like prey) and the fur feels like prey. It may be due to a
condition called Pica. It is quite common in Oriental and Asian cats
and is found in Siamese cats. Remove these object and provide safe
alternatives and/or apply a product called Granick's Bitter Apple,
which helps deter bad habits. Another possibility is to increase the
amount of roughage in the diet, with a high fiber prescription diet and
providing plants that are cat safe might help. Pica is defined as an
abnormal compulsion to eat things that aren't usually eaten. It is not
clear what causes it; weaned to early, anxiety, boredom, diet
deficiency or illness. I favor boredom as this breed is very active and
needs challenges.
RE-HOMING If you can't afford a Bengal try
Petfinder.com
RESCUE CENTERS Apparently animal rescue centers discourage
the buying of Bengal cats for sale (is this because they are too wild -
remember the CFA won't register them or to encourage people to adopt a
rescue cat). Don't know if this is a fact, more a thought......
CHARACTER F4s Bengal cats for
sale are not wild but they are a bit different; They are smarter and
more assertive. They do seem to be physically stronger than their
appearance would suggest.
COMPANION Bengals need the input of the human
companion as they are interactive and to a certain extent demanding. If
you are away a lot think of getting a companion pet for your Bengal
cat, this will help.
BREEDERS As for all purebred
cats, ask the breeder questions. If the answers are transparent then OK
(health certificates come to mind). Cheap Bengal cats for sale may be
sickly or badly breed, beware. Think carefully be adopting a Bengal.
DANGEROUS? At one point in time the South Dakota
Department of Game Fish and Parks believed that the Bengal was a danger
to the human owner. They still might?
REGISTRATION You can register
the Bengal with TICA, ACFA, GCCF, and AACE but not the CFA.
LEGAL? They are legal in California (guess you knew
that :-). They can get stolen. They are best then kept indoors BUT
they are active so does this mean this cat gets bored and chews things
see above - Pica? Note: As at July 2007 the Bengal cat and
wild/domestic hybrids are illegal in Iowa. Check this out in more
detail.
DECLAW? Don't declaw a Bengal
as it may develop biting and urinating habits. Plus it is cruel
especially for a cat this athletic. If you want to declaw your cat
don't get one. It is against the cats interest to be declawed.
PET
STORE Pet store Bengal cats for sale are illegally in the
USA. Is this correct (I live in the UK)?
APARTMENTCan
you keep a Bengal cat in an apartment? Yes and No. They are not
made for apartment living. My opinion is no unless it is a very big and
entertaining apartment. A Persian, for example, is much better
adapted for indoor living. Bengals are too active. But if you are
around a lot and there are play areas etc. in your apartment, plus you
take him/her out supervised then perhaps, yes. Please think of the cat.
HEALTH I am yet to hear of particular health issues
with the Bengal (as is the case for other pure bred cats). This may be
due to the fact they are a fairly new breed and breeding has not
happened for a long time. Remember the Persian was deliberately bred
(gradually altered) over a period of about 55 years.
Update:
since this page was built, it has come to my notice that Bengal Cats
for sale can suffer from the heart disease HCM which is due to a
mutated gene. I have made reference to this above on this page. If
you'd like to read moreclick here.
The name comes from their scientific classification, "Felis Bengalensis.
Where can
you buy them?
Here are links to clubs and breeders worldwide. I have been careful in
selecting these links as good sources of information but cannot
guarantee their quality. I'll leave it to you to do the checks -
thanks...
A good resource to find Bengal cats for sale is to
visit TICA (The International Cat
Association)
website and check out their list of breeders. In contrast to the CFA
they register Bengal cats. I have a page on this website on breeders
located in Florida, USA. Click here
to see a list of TICA breeders.
You can visit the website of the International
Bengal Cat Society's
website by clicking
here. For the UK click
here to visit the The Bengal Cat Club for information and
links etc. about
Bengal cats for sale.
Sources for Bengal Cats for Sale:
Bengal cats - A complete Pet Owner's Manual
Love to Know - Bengal Cat Breeder
Various blogs news portals
Breeders' websites too numerous to list here -
special mention: exoticbengals.com
Bengal cats for sale websites and more bengal
cats for sale websites...You get a lot from these sites