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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What is the focus of
the Bengal Breeding Program?
A. Health TemperamentExotic
LooksSolid
Bone StructureExceptional
Quality
Q. Is
the Bengal Breed a good "fit" for me or my family?
A. Most
agree that Bengal cats are highly intelligent. With their
"exotic" and
"wild" appearance, they are really like having a sweet
"lap-leopard" all of your own. They can also be very mischievous
and
boisterous. They are active cats with a high energy level always
ready
to play and entertain you! Some folks leash train them, and teach
them
to fetch, and play other games. The Bengals are also unique in
that
they actually love and enjoy water. It's so amazing! They
can sometimes
appear to be like big clowns! The Bengal mixes well with children
and
other animals. With their sleek, soft coat, which is more like a
pelt
than ordinary cat fur, people sometimes with allergies claim that the
Bengal Breed brings out fewer reactions. Frequent travelers may
find
this attention-seeking breed unsuitable as an only pet. If you do
travel some you may want to think about adopting two!
Q. Should I adopt a female
or a male kitten?
A. Both
males and females make wonderful pets. There is little variation
in
their personalities, once they have been de-sexed. Some
"generalized"
cat care books state that males are more extroverted and more apt to
adapt themselves with strangers. These same books state females
are more
standoffish, and need more time to bond with their owners or adapt to
company or strangers. We have found that with the Bengal breed
this is
not necessarily true. Both sexes make fine pets!
Q. Do
Bengals get along well with other animals?
A.
Actually, yes,
very well. Bengals are extremely
inquisitive, yet time is needed in meeting other animals.
You may
see the usual "hissing" at first, but usually after slow introductions
a week or two)
and lots of reassuring, friends will be made.
We have placed our Bengals into homes with existing cats,
dogs, even large breed dogs, and they have adapted well. If the
existing animals are friendly and gentle, then there should be no
problems. We do, however, choose to NOT adopt-out our Bengal-Babies to
homes that have Pitt bulls or Rotweilers.
Q. What
sets Bengal Cattery apart from other Bengal Breeders?
A. We
have over 15 years of experience breeding cats. We love our
Bengal-Babies and put forth every effort to give them everything they
need. We also put forth the effort to find the perfect home for
each
kitten. Each and every kitten has an individual personality and
we try
to find the perfect home with the right "fit". Each kitten is
raised
underfoot (in home) with lots of love and attention, and kittens are
only allowed to leave their mothers after they have matured
sufficiently and learned critical social skills (about 10-12
weeks). We
also take into consideration the vitality of our Breeding cats.
Our
Adult Breeding cats are allowed sufficient time between litters to
maintain their own best health. We are not a kitten
mill. Cat
breeding is not something that those motivated solely by money should
attempt. Please read:
http://www.thatdarncat.com/money4kittens.html
Q. Is it
okay to declaw my Bengal after adoption?
A.
Absolutely not. If
there is any chance that you would consider
declawing one of our kittens, then we would advise you to look for a
different kind of animal such as a dog for a companion. The
procedure
commonly called "declawing" is actually a form of mutilation and is
outlawed by almost all other countries. You are essentially
cutting off half the cat's toes and destroying the muscles, ligaments,
tendons, and nerves there. Some cats afterward may exhibit
undesirable
behavior, like refusing to use the litter box, because their damaged
toes never feel right again digging in the litter. There are many
other
options that one can consider. We recommend having a cat
scratching post easily accessible to your kitten(s) at all times.
For
more stubborn cats, there are other humane alternatives, such as Soft
Paws®. Also, keeping
your kitten's nails trimmed is important. If
you're unsure how to do this yourself, you can always talk to your
veterinarian about scheduling a time where he or she can walk you
through
the process, and you can then learn to do it properly and safely by
yourself.
Q. What
happens if I want to change the food that my kitten is eating?
 A. We
recommend feeding your Bengal kitten Bil-Jac kitten food until he or
she has reached at least one year of age. If in this time you
choose to
change the kitten's food, dramatically, it could cause some stomach
upset or diarrhea. What we recommend is a gradual transition,
adding a
bit more each day, slowly mixing in a little of the new food with their
existing food until completely switched over. This usually takes
approximately two weeks. There are many good foods on the market,
but
of course we want to see our kittens only eating "premium" quality
kitten foods.
Q. What
kind of litter do you recommend using?
A.
First, what we DON'T recommend is any kind of "clumping"
litter; it can
be dangerous for kittens less than six months of age.
Bengals recommend Swheat Scoop or World's Best Cat
Litter. We have
had the best feedback on these two products. If neither one is
available in your area, then we recommend using a basic, unscented clay
litter. After SIX months of age you can start using a
"clumping" clay
litter if you wish.
Q. What
kind of food and water dishes do you recommend?
A.
Stainless steel or ceramic is
preferred. Please try to avoid using
plastic food and water dishes, as they can discolor the muzzle and
cause chin acne.
Q. What
are the benefits of adopting a pure-bred kitten from a breeder?
A. Comparison Chart:
| Kitten from a Breeder |
Kitten
from an Animal Shelter
|
Kitten
from a Shopping Mall Pet Store
|
| Health
History |
Unknown
Health History |
Health
history varies |
| Guaranteed
Free From: Feline Leukemia, Feline Aids, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease |
No Guarantees |
Guarantees
vary |
Responsible
breeding of gene pools and care of breeding stock.
|
Unknown
gene pool background (many interbred cats within the same familial
generation). Often ill, feral or abused parent cats.
|
Often
from "kitten mills," therefore exhausted breeding stock. |
| Properly
socialized kittens |
Often
feral and unsocialized |
"Kitten
mills" don't properly socialize their animals for eventual buyers |
Note
that buying directly from a breeder is a process, not an impulse.
Be prepared to possibly have to "wait" for a kitten. Demand often
exceeds supply because responsible breeders "rest" their Queens between
litters. Breeders usually require a contract with the new
pet quality cat owner stating that the owner must remain committed to
the cat for its entire life, not declaw the cat, provide adequate
medical care, and that the cat will be (or has been) de-sexed.
Buying from a breeder ensures you a healthy pet and ongoing concern for
its welfare.
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