Hi linden.
Firstly, I really am very sorry to hear about your sad loss. I hope in time that the pain will ease for both you and your daughter.
I wanted to step in here and offer advice from MY experiences with entire queens. I am NOT judging you, neither am I trying to change your mind, BUT I feel you need to be aware of the sheer reality of what living with an entire Bengal female can be like, and the potential stress that you could be under in the future.
I won't repeat the obvious, as you have been given some fantastic advice already on this thread, and advice given by VERY experienced Bengal owners. PLEASE do not dismiss any of this advice.
OK, I will tell it like it is, and hopefully make you aware of what may be in store for you with an entire queen.
1. Once a female Bengal is in heat, she will most likely be VERY vocal, and her personality WILL change. Instead of the loving kitty that you have come to know, she will change overnight into a hormonal noisy cat desperate to find a male to mate with.
2. You may have to put up with this behaviour for a few months at least, depending at what age she comes into heat. She may keep your daughter awake with the noise, and believe me, some queens can be VERY noisy!
3. After her first heat, the second may be even stronger. She may start spraying by now, and spray she will, and ANYWHERE. Up against walls, curtains, power sockets, kitchen counters...even outside your daughter's bedroom. Are you prepared for this, and the hygiene concerns that WILL affect your daughter, especially if she steps in cat pee?
4. Once a female Bengal starts spraying, the likelihood is that she will NOT stop even after she is spayed, unless you are very lucky. The more litters she has the more likely it is that she will spray for longer, and spray even MORE.
5. Every time your kitty goes to the breeder, she is at risk of picking up infections. She will be VERY stressed at having to move home multiple times. She may have problems during pregnancy/birthing, that might require her to stay at the breeders for even longer. Can you cope with this? Can you cope with her returning to you with a health issue that will cause you and your daughter much stress and worry?
6. If your kitty starts calling at a very early age (from as young as 4 months old), have you thought about the possibility of (open/closed) pyometra? This disease can be fatal if not treated immediately and you must be aware of the symptoms to look out for.
7. Some Bengal females (ESPECIALLY neutered queens) can be VERY territorial as they get older. This will be a major deciding factor on whether you can home another cat, as some Bengal females simply will not want to welcome other cats into their territory, especially Bengal queens; whether entire or neutered.
8. Have you thought about problems during birthing with your cat? Sometimes undetected health problems CAN arise, and worse case scenario, your cat may not survive a birth if there are complications. Are you really prepared for this?
9. You have a a much-loved member of the family now and that is great, BUT, her character might change as soon as she starts mating. The once loving and friendly cat you bought as a 'pet' may well become aloof, carry on spraying and may never accept another cat into your home.
10. You MUST look at this long term. Your cat WILL change as soon as her hormones kick in, and she may even show signs of aggression every time she comes back to you after having a litter. She will be frustrated, and she may well come back on heat as soon as 5 days after her last litter. This may mean an even noisier cat, more spraying and an even less loving cat until she mates again.
I have not posted the above because I have nothing better to do. I am actually not even trying to put you off. I have owned/bred Bengals for the best part of 17 years now, and I KNOW what I am talking about. I have 8 Bengal pets with me. Five of them are my ex-queens, and four of them still spray now. They always will, but at least I don't have young children to think about, and I am well used to the constant cleaning and trying to get rid of the smell. The smell of spraying Bengal queens (or ex-queens) can sometimes be as bad (if not worse) than Bengal studs. The smell can be worse than a dozen opened nappies/diapers left lying around, and believe me, entire girls are relentless when it comes to spraying!
Anyway, I can't agree with your 'arrangement' for one minute I am afraid. For any breeder to let a pet owner take responsibility of a queen is irresponsible IMO. I do think that the only person to 'gain' from this is your breeder, and I do worry about what you may have to face in the future; especially your daughter. I would urge you to think very hard about this situation, as IMO it is FAR from ideal for you, and if your only purpose was to home a new kitty for you and your daughter, then I truly think that a kitten without a 'breeding contract' would have been the best way forward for you both. I am saddened that ANY breeder would even contemplate homing kittens under such a contract especially knowing your sad circumstances. To me, that just isn't right. It isn't right at all.
I wish you luck, I hope you make the right decision for your kitty and for your daughter, and finally, I hope you stay around on here. You will always get great advice and support, even if it's not what you want to hear.
_________________ Best Wishes,
Maddy
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