Is Bengal Cat right for you???

If you love a cat with an exotic look but without the size and danger of a wild cat, the Bengal Cat could be a choice for you. Bengal Cat is getting more and more popular in Malaysia, Singapore and many countries in Asia nowadays.

Things to consider

Are you deciding if a Bengal cat is right for you and family members?  I know that would be a big and lifelong decision to make!

As we know that our pets are our family members, so you will need to make sure the personality is one that will fit into your home. Bengals are stunningly beautiful, very active, fun loving, and intelligent cats. They are excellent with children and adapt well to other family pets.

Bengals are also good with puppies and some even prefer the company of dogs rather than cats! I’ve heard someone called Bengal as “dog lover’s cat”. Some of them behave like dog too. You know the way your dogs come to you with their favorite toy and say, “Papa Mama, let’s go play”.

Choosing a Bengal Kitten

After you have decided to add this new family member, you will need to consider what pattern and colour you prefer. There are only two patterns to choose: spotted/rosette and marble. Their colours are categorized into standard and non-standard. The standard colours including brown, silver, seal lynx, seal minks and  seal sepia while the non standard colours are blue, melanistic, cinnamon, chocolate, charcoal, and so on. As a beginner, I will look for the standard colours and the pattern I like.

Bengal Kittens: male or female?

Next step is for you to decide whether you want a male or a female Bengal. Remember, each kitten has their own individual personality regardless of sex.  Therefore, the owner needs to also consider how your pets will adjust to this new family member when deciding which kitten is for you.

Educated & Trustworthy Bengal Cattery, not a pet shop

It should be our responsible to do some homework when it comes to choosing our Bengal. Doing some research will help you get to know the breed a lot better. When a Bengal cat comes from a genuine breeder, you can be sure that all your questions concerning the breed will be answered comprehensively. Because they really spend time taking care their cat, not for business purpose or only for selling. Educated Home breeder is a good consideration as they will guide you what to do when you bring your kitten home.

On the other hand, if a Bengal cat just happens to come from a kitten producer, most of your inquiries will be left in shallows. The reason behind this is that unlike a true Bengal cat breeder, kitten producers just treat Bengals as a source of profit. Their principle is that the more Bengal kittens they produce the more money that comes in. Unfortunately, most of the kittens sold in the pet shop are from kitten mill or backyard breeder. Those kittens often grow up in a cage. You should really make sure to screen your Bengal cat breeder before actually deciding to buy a Bengal.

Bengal Kittens : cost

How much does a Bengal cost in Malaysia? Usually, the price is made according to the quality of Bengal Kitten. Be prepared to know what you think would perfectly fit your budget, lifestyle and personality. Below are 3 categories of Bengal Cats:

• Pet Quality Bengal Kittens: RM1800 and above
• Breeder Quality Bengal Kittens: RM 3500 and above
• Show Quality Bengal Kittens: RM7000 and above

Show Quality Bengals are those whose general and specific traits are clearly noticeable and abide by the standards set by Bengal organizations such as the International Bengal Breeders Association and International Bengal Cat Society.

Breeder Quality Bengals are ideal for passing on the specific traits in producing desirable Bengal kittens. You do not need to buy a Breeder Quality Bengal kitten if you do not have plans to start your own Bengal cattery as its price is much higher.

Although Pet Quality Bengal Kittens are not as good as for show, they do have the temperament of a perfect house companion and friend.

Adopt a Bengal cat

If you have very limited budget, there is another option you may consider is a retire adult cat. These Retired Friends are spayed and neutered pedigreed adult cats retired from breeding and showing who are looking for new homes. They are not free, but with low adoption costs such as spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations and other testing for medical conditions. So, adopting a show/breeding Bengal cat is an excellent idea too.

Bengal Kittens: final considerations

As I mentioned, owning a Bengal cat is a lifelong commitment. Always consider the Bengal cat breeder who takes care of your Bengal cat before you bring it home. In him or her lies the correct upbringing and health foundation of your Bengal Kitten, so you should definitely include your reputable Bengal cat breeder in your list of best choices.