Hello all. I have had many pets over the years and recently adopted a Bengal rescue. This kitten was one of the most rewarding pets I've ever had. My daughter and grandkids fall in love with him and decided they needed him more than my wife and I, haha. I have now started looking at another Bengal and have a question if anyone could help. I found a breeder in Delaware that has a very cheap price on a couple of kittens and stars that he will ship the kitten to my house and all documents and paperwork seem to be in order. Problem is that I'm not sure if this is a scam. Is this common among breeders or is this just as it seems, "too good to be true"? Ctrapp06@yahoo.com

Most breeders will ship the cats. Naturally, the best thing is to visit the breeder's facility and see the cats and the environment for yourself. If you can't do that, then do a lot of research on the breeder. This is important as your cat will be much more socialized if the breeder allows the kittens to have the run of the home and interact with other pets and/or children. Some breeders keep the queens and litter in a cat run where they are separated from the home. You ask a lot of questions -- so familiarize yourself with what needs to be asked. Google can help you out there.

Just know that shipping a kitten can be traumatic for the little one. There is enough stress in leaving mom and siblings and if you include a plane ride, delays, etc., it can be quite an ordeal.

I'm sure there are scammers out there as well as backyard breeders who claim a kitten is a bengal and the kitten is not! Make sure they are a member of TICA and ask for referrals from the breeder! Follow up with these owners.

Diligence will pay off for you. After all, you are making a lifetime commitment to a kitty. You don't mention where you reside, but I'm sure there is a breeder closer to you.

Good luck.

Breeders do ship kittens, yes. But, personally, I would never buy from a cattery that I have not visited.

There have been posts on this forum before from people who have encountered scammers, so they are certainly out there.

The cheap price is a red flag. If there is a legitimate reason for the low price, what is it?

Are there not breeders closer to you, or are you particularly interested in these kittens because of the price?

I saw your other post about a Exotic Bengaz. Delaware is a tiny state and borders some other states, so check around the surrounding areas. Take a weekend and travel to visit the breeder and see the kittens. Buying a cat from a photograph or video is not the best blend for your family! You want to physically pick out your kitten. You're paying money for the cat -- you want to make the right choice.

I think that you have to understand that the vast majority of people on this forum have carefully gone through a rigorous selection process of finding a breeder that selectively breeds, properly socializes, scans for congenital defects, offers excellent initial healthcare and nutrition, and in most cases has waiting or at least sells out their kittens pretty quickly at a fairly high price. And the discussions tend to revolve around how well the breeders are doing with such things, and whether others are doing better and such.

So the "I found a kitten real cheap is it a scam?" thing is kind of like a fingernail on a blackboard to many. And it's not that getting a bengal from a shelter is frowned upon, just the opposite, it's a wonderful thing to do, but finding a breeder based on price alone and then encouraging that practice of doing the low-budget breeding (or "backyard breeding") thing is seen as real detrimental to the breed in general.

In that way the forum is pretty different from other forums where people would revel in "finding the absolute best deal of the century" and proudly sharing and comparing with others. With pedigreed cats and enthusiasts, it just doesn't work that way.

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The little monsters 3

Thank you to everyone with your responses. I have contacted several local breeders and will continue to do so until I find the right match. Thanks again.