Hi all
I've been wanting and researching a bengal for over a year now and have decided to take the happy plunge . I'm after a bengal as a loving pet (no showing) based on the character traits of the breed. As I'm not interested in showing am I still to avoid a sale with 'no papers' despite the kitten, family and parents all appearing happy and healthy? Or is it much easier to be sold a bengal cross than I expected?
Any help really appreciated

Thanks

Firstly, welcome to the forum

Am I right in thinking that you have already been to see a kitten?

You need to do the same research whether you are interested in papers or not.

If the kitten is registered you know it is a Bengal but that is only a tiny part of the research I would do if I was looking at getting a Bengal kitten.

My no.1 priority would be a kitten from HCM and PKdef screened parents that has been well socialised and is registered either with TICA or GCCF (in the UK)

Kittens that are not registered very often come from people who breed from cats who are not on the active register and cannot be registered.

The price that some people have paid for bengal cross kittens on here amazes me as they have done so little research before parting with their money. It is frightening.

It would also help to know which country you are in as advice can differ!


Heather

My $0.02:

The fact that you get or don't get a piece of paper, in and of itself is not that important, imo. But:

1. You have to ask yourself why you want a bengal. If the answer is that you want to experience some of the unique qualities of the breed, then what would the point be of getting one that was not selectively bred?

2. If you aren't really all that fussy, and just want a cool looking, active kitty, you might want to consider getting one from a shelter instead. If you're not worried about doing the full "pure-bred cat thing", and cost is a big factor, then why not get the cat from a shelter? There are actually shelters that specialize in bengals.

3. There's the "where there's smoke there is fire" thing. If the breeder is low-key and thumbing their nose at breeding best-practices, not bothering to register their cats, then what OTHER corners are they also cutting? Health? Responsible selective breeding? Socialization? Nutrition? How responsible is this breeder going to be if problems arise, like health problems discovered during the kittens first week with you?

4. If the main motivator is cost, there are other alternatives too without having to sacrifice so much in terms of unknowns. You can get retired breeding cats from very responsible breeders who "do it right". Also sometimes a breeder has trouble finding homes for all their kittens, and will cut you a good deal to take one off their hands that others have passed on (because coat pattern or coloration or whatnot). For example if breeders are going for snows and get a blue or a black, those are sometimes considered less desirable but are full, documented, well raised bengals.

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The little monsters 3

Hi thanks for the replies, it looks like papers are the way to go as I'm really keen on getting a cat with the bengal personality traits. Just one think nagging me at the back of my mind; how easily forged Are the papers? If 'breeders' can go to such lengths with their underhand tactics what's to stop them forging some papers to get an extra £200+ profit out of their endeavour ?

I'm looking for a male blue eyed snow lynx preferably (south Yorkshire area but willing to travel a bit ) but also looking at other bengals. I've noticed a lot of snow lynx type seem to be advertised without papers, it seems more so than the brown varieties.
One breeder got back to me offering papers for an additional £100, I'm not sure i found this reassuring or not, does that reflect the cost of 'getting' papers?
Thanks

Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong but it doesn't cost £100 for TICA registration.

I did NOT do my research fully (neither am I a stupid person) but I ended up getting 2 kittens from a "registered breeder" but no TICA registration (I didn't think it was necessary as. like you, I just wanted them as pets and not for showing). I have had 7 weeks of bloody diarrhoea and they have just been diagnosed with Tritrichomonas Foetus (TF) and are currently on medication that is thankfully working.

Please, please do not buy a kitten "cheaper" without papers as I did. I have had 7 weeks of absolute hell (thankfully insured with Petplan but still cost me a lot of money) plus the poor kittens have been through the mill.

Let us know how you get on.

Lisa
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Please listen to Lisa. She is sharing her story which began IDENTICAL to yours.

any person offering to sell pedigree kittens without papers is suspect and you must consider your own participation in what can be a cruel and nasty back-yard industry.
If you are indifferent about pure-bred or cross-bred kittens or cats then please take some time to visit shelters where you live... and rescue a cat that might otherwise become a statistic.

Lisa , really sorry to hear about your little guys. Thanks for commenting too, it's good to hear from someone else who was in the same boat

No problem. If it stops someone making the same mistake I did I will continue to implore people to make sure they don't get kittens until 13 weeks old and with all paperwork.

I am just relieved that my 2 are finally on the mend. They've had 7 days of ronidazole so another 7 to go but the stinky bloody diarrhoea stopped after 2 days of taking the meds thankfully.

Let us know how you get on in your search and we want LOTS of pics once your kitten has chosen you ;)

Lisa
X

If you are wanting a Bengal "persoanlity" I wouldn't settle on any color or pattern preference! I would go visit and let the kitten pick you! I have two bengals, I purchased one as a kitten and took in an ex stud when he was two. One is the definition of a Bengal and the other is only Bengal between the hours of dusk til dawn any other time she is a non vocal lap cat other than the fact she follows me everywhere and when I don't pay attention she an all 11 of here pounds climb my back!

Bengals are special cats and mean the world to me, they are treated like my kids and not because I don't have any human kids they are just that special! I wouldn't want to save a few hundred dollars and have a cat that looks like a Bengal. I think you are now on the right road!! Good job to you for researching!!! Now you can have te kitty of your dream or nightmares

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Went to go see a bengal breeder today and wow, I definitely under estimated how big a part of their life their cats are and how what they invest into them shapes the cats . Everyone of about 8 were playful and sociable. The snow lynx I went to see was busy playing when I first sat down and his mink sister popped onto my lap for a stroke and mini doze, I went to meet the parents who were lovely- mum very talkative and wanted a fuss. When I got back in the little lynx had jumped funny and was limping slightly , but after a little sleep and eating a baby chick he brightened up ,lost the limp and had a rest with his sister slept on top if him and then moved up to perch on the breeder's shoulder.
He then moved on to me and had a long friendly nap on my lap.

He seemed happy with me and friendly. All the cats were really happy and friendly any would like to be scooped up for a stroke.. Even the savannahs :)