I really did bump into the breed by accident. I'd lost my beloved moggie of 18 years and couldn't cope with the emptiness in the house so I did an internet search for rescue kittens in my area. Two Bengal kittens came up - they'd been homed but it had gone wrong. I didn't know anything about Bengals but rang the breeder and arranged to go over the following day. I spent the next 24 hours on the internet reading everything I could (including this forum) and decided to go ahead. The breeder was initially a bit wary of me and was very anxious to avoid another bad homing but once we'd met and talked about my cat experience and the environment they would be in, she decided I was OK. I returned the next day and took not just the original two, but their litter mate too so I went from knowing nothing about Bengals to owning three 48 hours later!

I'm aware that some on here may feel I was irresponsible, and that perhaps the breeder shouldn't have let me have them but I don't have any regrets and me and my kittens are having a fantastic time together! I should say that I've owned cats all my life and my three Bengals are simply pets. They're not show quality and I've never had any intention of getting into showing or breeding - I certainly wouldn't have gone into something like that with only 48 hours research.

I had a Siamese for 11 years who was my baby-- I got her my third year of law school and she got me through law school, bar exams, first through third jobs and several moves. In 1999 she was diagnosed with cancer, and 8 months later she died.

A lady I worked with-- who had been following my ordeal-- approached me with sympathy and I told her, during the course of the conversation, that I was going to have to get another cat soon because my apartment was just too lonely.

There was a long pause, and she said, "Well... normally I wouldn't do this to someone who just lost a beloved pet, but I have a situation." She proceeded to tell me that she was getting ready to get married, and that she was marrying a man she had met through the cat show circuit, so they would be combining their catteries. They had determined that they needed to "thin the herd" and get rid of any older kittens or cats that had not yet been placed. She said that she had a five month old kitten-- the last of his litter-- who she hadn't been able to place because he was poorly marked. She said that she would give him to me if I promised to have him neutered right away, keep him as an indoor cat, never have him declawed and generally provide him with a good home.

I asked, "What breed is he?" And she said, "A Bengal." I thought, "What's a Bengal?" and immediately began doing research.

That was Winston-- by beloved boy who just died: A beautiful (pet quality) seal-lynx-point "snow leopard" boy with the most gorgeous blue eyes you've ever seen and the silliest, sweetest personality ever. I am hooked. So are my husband and my stepdaughter. I don't think that we will ever be without at least one Bengal from here on out (we still have our second, Cinnamon, a brown spotted and two DSHs (moggies)).

I am really going to miss my boy...

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SharonCville

I originally wanted a Abyssinian - did years of research bought all the books I could get my hands on ect But couldnt find a breeder near me - then found some Aby crosses about 50 miles away - went to see them and chose a little boy - About a week later the woman had the gas men round (told them about the mother with kittens and told them to keep the doors shut) they didnt keep the doors shut and the mother cat was scared and took off with the kittens never to be seen again

It broke my heart and I decided to forget about Abys for the time being.

Whilst looking for Abys I saw Bengals and then spent years looking, reserching and buying books too - then I got my Tori and was so hooked that a year later I got my Tessa too - Ive got my Brown Spotty, My Silver Marbled - now I just need a Snow and ive got the full set!

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www.bouncybengals.co.uk

In all honesty I was looking for a Manx breeder close to where I am at in Germany. I knew from seeing Manx in other families they are great with kids. The closest I found was in Finland and not very friendly. So my daughter, Ali, and I started looking online for other breeds. She is the one that came acrossed bengals and wanted to check them out. Smart girl -- I have she picked a great breed of cat. As soon as I saw that they are also friendly with kids --- I started looking more into them. Best choice we ever made.