|
Our pricing reflects the
quality of our cats and the care we put into their upbringing. We
provide an in- home environment for our kittens, thus they are not raised in
small cages; proper
socialization, good exercise and mental development is a must in the
development of each kitten to ensure a well formed personality.
Each kittens' price includes: spay/neuter, age appropriate vaccinations and deworming, purchasing contract, health
guarantee and
registration papers; travel kennel is extra, as is shipping. All our cats and kittens are healthy and
disease free and a Health Guarantee is provided. We: !. Offer a health guarantee 2. Socialize kittens with children 3. Advise on family compatibility 4. Breed only to TICA registered Bengal cats 5. Provide purebred TICA registration papers 6. Provide "after purchase" assistance and communication Here are some tips when making your selection*: * If purchasing a kitten from an "underfoot home" is a priority for you, check with the cattery owner to ensure the kittens and cats are well socialized. Kittens raised underfoot in the home are generally happier and stress free, get more exercise and have a better chance at being more sociable and well adjusted, than those raised in a detached small pen areas or in small pens. I stress quality time with my kittens and cats and it shows in their interactive behavior and personalities. * Take a look at or, if possible, visit the kittens at around three to four weeks of age: the pattern is now at its best for a long time, till about 12-16 weeks and on. * stripes can break into spots, but those spots will keep a vertical orientation. If parents are rosetted, kittens should also be. The centers of the spots should "drop out" revealing a another colour or shade within the spot. * pink bellies indicate a pelt coat, gold glitter is visible on the bridge of the nose. Also look at the parents for these traits. * usually, behind the ears and on the paws and cheeks/temples, the future colour can be estimated. * the head type cannot be seen very well until about 6-8 weeks, so take another look at the litter again at that age. * at 4-5 weeks the kittens go into the fuzzies: the pattern fades temporarily, sometimes lasting for up to 6 months, but more commonly, until 16 weeks. * very big eyes on a kitten will give beautiful, nocturnal eyes on an adult. * the muzzle should be square with extended whiskers, exhibiting full whisker pads * the ears may appear large, but rounding and broadness are visible already, and the kitten will usually "grow into" their ears. Compare with littermates. * the body type is very hard to estimate; look at the parents and compare with littermates, although boning can be assessed. ***The above suggestions are to be used as a guide only*** How old should a kitten be when it goes to a new home? http://www.breedlist.com/faq/young.html
Why are no male Foundation Bengals used in breeding?The first three Foundation generations generally produce infertile male offspring. There are a few exceptions to this rule but for the most part, only female Foundation Bengals have proven to be fertile and thus the Foundation males are adopted into qualified pet homes. How does the temperament differ between a Foundation and an SBT Bengal?
The temperament of the Asian Leopard Cat tends to be elusive and intelligent. In their natural environment they typically hunt by night, since they are almost exclusively nocturnal animals. They are agile felines, going from treetops to marsh in one continual motion. They are found within the vicinity of water and are accomplished swimmers. Many wild Leopard Cats will dispose of the excretions in water, to cover their scent from large predators. It is with this extreme intelligence that the ALC has survived many generations in a world where their habitat is dwindling and where they are a very small predator in the huge circle of life. How does this all relate to the Foundation Bengal?
The Foundation Bengal is an intense feline with many aspects of the Asian Leopard Cat behavior that can make a fascinating addition to the appropriate home. However, those same idiosyncrasies can make life very uncomfortable for both owner and cat if the household is unprepared or unable to accept them on the Foundation Bengal’s terms. The closer the Foundation Bengal is to the Asian Leopard Cat, the stronger the instinctive behaviors and the less likely that they can be modified to fit the owner's expectations. A true Foundation Cat enthusiast does not expect the cat to change to fit the owner's lifestyle, but rather is willing to change their lifestyle to accept the behavior of the cat. In general, while SBT's adapt readily to new situations, new people and new places, Foundation Cats find it more difficult to do so and are much more easily stressed by those changes.
Reprinted in its' entirety from the TIBCS website http://www.bengalcat.com/aboutbengals/foundation.aspx"Permission for use granted by Sal Vitale, President, The International Bengal Cat Society (2006)".
"An Inside Cat is a Safe Cat" |
Thinking
of getting a Bengal pet? Bengal cats make loving, dependable
household pets and intelligent companions! Here are some common
questions and considerations in selecting a new Bengal family
member.
A
domestic Bengal (four or more generations away from the Asian
Leopard Cat) has been selectively bred for an active, loving and
resolute disposition. Some Bengals are extremely interactive and
insist on being an active member of the family. Many Bengals
have a natural love for water and for interactive playing with
adults, children and other pet members of the family. Just as in
all cat breeds, there are individual personalities within
bloodlines and even between littermates. Some Bengals are born
showmen; some may be reserved. Careful breeding for a loving
temperament is only half the story. Socialization, interesting
experiences and lots of hands-on love and attention in early
life and beyond are what shape your Bengal kitten into a prized
companion. 
When adding any new feline member to your household, both the
disposition and behaviors of the resident pets and the Bengal
must be taken into consideration. Begin discussing the
temperament and personality with your responsible breeder. Is
this Bengal dominant or submissive? How do they interact with
the breeder's family, littermates and with other felines in the
breeder's home? Have they ever been exposed to dogs, birds or
turtles etc? These types of questions, designed for your
specific situation, will give you a baseline to decide which cat
would fit best with your resident pet. A slow and easy
introduction is the best route for introducing the new kitty
into your home. 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 the new kitten adjust to their new
environment. 
It
is so very sad when a person neglects to alter their pet early
enough and then cannot live with the spraying animal they have
created (while spraying is a territorial marking behavior,
spay/neuter will most often prevent it in both sexes but it will
not always "cure" an existing problem). Altered cats also do not
make more unwanted babies. Bengals are beautiful and unusual
because they have been responsibly and selectively bred---if you
want mongrel, unpedigreed kittens, please adopt from your local
shelter. Your Bengal pet may also have an imperfection that
should not be reproduced, which is why it was not initially sold
as a breeder.
Bengals
are so intelligent and they do have a propensity to learn things
quickly! With a lot of novel twists and turns, they like to
teach their families a new trick or two. Please do not expect
your Bengal to do any one particular thing! Many Bengals like to
play in water, fetch and may even take a bath with you, but just
like any instinctual behaviour, it is up to the individual
personality of each cat to show their family exactly what tricks
and traits they have. You can read about some of the tricks
Bengals can do by reading the article on
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.
Remember,
"You get what you paid for" and "If it sounds too good to be
true it usually is". While these clichés may sound a bit strange
when referring to our beautiful Bengal cats, remember that
responsible breeders work very hard to bring in new bloodlines,
exhibit their kittens, provide exceptional health care and spend
a lot of time and energy educating the public on their charming
cats. This all costs a fair amount of money and these expenses
are usually reflected in the prices of kittens. That being said,
there are ways to find the occasional quality Bengal that may be
available for a lower amount: 
The origin of the Bengal breed began with the cross
between The Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) and the domestic
cat. Some of the early felines used in these matings
include Egyptian and Indian Maus, Burmese and
non-pedigreed domestic cats. As the breed progressed,
SBT Bengals were taken back to the Asian Leopard Cat
instead of the misc. other breeds. The first three
generations resulting from the ALC x Bengal are
considered "Foundation Bengals". The terminology
regarding the early generation Foundation Cats can
become somewhat confusing for even the most experienced
Bengal enthusiast. 
This question is best answered by first describing the
innate nature of the Asian Leopard Cat. This small,
elusive wildcat is found from Siberia, Pakistan, Tibet
and India, Burma, Thailand, and part mainland China then
south to Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines. They
can thrive in a variety of habitats... dense tropical
forests, scrub, semi-desert and agricultural areas. The
species Latin name (bengalensis) is derived from the
first Leopard Cat that was discovered swimming in the
Bay of Bengal. 
Typically, any progeny off of the Leopard Cat will
inherit at least some parental traits. As each
generation moves away from the Leopard Cat heritage,
some of those traits may be removed or lessoned to some
degree. The Foundation Bengal is often leery of new
situations because nature has instilled a cautious
intelligence in their ancestors. They need a stable and
secure environment and typically do not adapt to
variations within their everyday life. The commitment to
a Foundation Bengal must be considered to be life-long
because while they may not bond to all people, if they
do, it is usually passionately intense and breaking this
bond can destroy the spirit of the cat. They are not
your traditional pet cat and there needs to be a clear
understanding of the environment and lifestyle one needs
to achieve in order to form the trusting relationship
that may be possible with them. The Foundation Bengal is
not predisposed to being aggressive but when faced with
an uncomfortable situation (often involving loud noises,
quick movements, or strange people or situations), they
typically show a shyness and look for a safe and quiet
place. This may be any area of their home where they
have chosen as a safe and secure environment, perhaps a
separate room or a remote cat tree where they can be
"alone", until they feel safe and secure. Every
Foundation Bengal is different, with individual
personalities and different reactions to every
situation. 