midge - When I bought Quasar, we called, and spoke with, several breeders. None of these persons had prices on their website. We ended up paying $500 for him not because of the price tag but because his breeder was very conscientious, offered a health guarantee, provided neuter & first 2 sets of vaccines, screened all breeding animals for HCM annually (and could prove it), and offered much in the way of advice and then, after purchase, support for a totally NOVICE Bengal cat owner. As time has gone on, I have realized that she was definitely the right choice of breeder.

In any event, I know from the costs associated with her business and the value of the cares my kitten had been given prior to purchase, that she is most certainly not making money. Anything she may have made on my boy was certainly taken up not only in the aforementioned costs peculiar to my boy but in the maintenance of her breeding stock, facilities, and vet bills/losses associated with difficult births etc.

I don't think any of the prices quoted you was exorbitant, especially if the breeders were doing everything they ought to provide a quality environment for toms, queens, and kittens.

I sure hope, also, that on top of the 500 pound price tag you are prepared to spend at least that much in the first year on cat expenses. I would hate to see the poor waif allowed to fail in your home and end up in a rescue kennel because you are not prepared or able to afford it's care.

Good luck with your new acquisition, if you are prepared for the challenge.

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~ Kyenta

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Lollo

To many assumptions being made here.
my experience is that i have spent a few months looking at various kittens gathering as much information as i can whilst also reading a lot of information on this forum and others alike.

-'Self proclaimed expert'
I've read back through my posts and i can't see where i have said this, perhaps you could point it out for me.

- 'Market forces dictate the price of kittens, like they do everything else that is for sale. The price of the kitten depends on the quality of the kitten, sex, size, shape, markings'
As i have said a few times now, the price of the kitten will depend on quality, but thanks for reiterating and agreeing with what i have said.

'Just because YOU want a kitten for £500, it does not mean the entire cat fancy will dance to your tune'
I am not telling anyone to dance to my tune, i am not telling anyone what price they should sell their kittens for, not quite sure how you have got to that conclusion, may i suggest you read back through everything i have said and if you still can't grasp what i am saying then read back through it again.

As you have rightly said 'its a sellers market' and because of that they will dictate the price as they please and so when you make an enquiry the seller will dictate how much they can charge, intact if you read back through my post's and yours your see you are largely agreeing (albeit using a different word structure) in most of what i have said.

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Lollo

What is HCM? I am having my cat tested for PK Def and PKD1 at UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory but I don't see HCM mentioned in the list of test options.

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The little monsters 3

Yes i will stand by my original stance, i will not deal with anyone who doesn't put a price 'because i don't need to' is not a reason imo. As others have said there isn't a reason not to put a price unless the price is likely to be variable.

HCM is a hereditary cardiac disease. Hypertrophic cardiac myopathy. It resembles human heart failure and may present at any time during a cat's life. Breeding stock should be tested annually to ensure strong disease-free blood lines.

The definitive test is an echocardiogram, not a blood test.

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~ Kyenta

Thanks for the information. I have my cats on insurance (Trupanion) and I am trying to decide how long to keep them on it. It certainly is expensive, but since I didn't know anything about my rescue kitties health background I thought it would be a good move for a while at least. I imagine an insurance company might consider HCM pre-existing though.