How to choose a Bengal Kitten

Strawbell Cats "Breeding top quality Savannah & Bengal cats"		Mistikka Bengals "Breeders of Beautiful Home-Reared Bengals from Quality Breeding Lines"		XYZ Bengals "Kittens from championship winning lines"
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Choosing A Kitten

A lot of you out there are probably thinking what are Back Yard Breeders (BYB).  They are people who bring two breeding animals together regardless of their quality to earn some quick money.  Some BYB are from upper class homes and may really look after their cats, however getting your kitten from a BYB is a gamble I would not like anyone to take.  It may look a bargain a Bengal kitten for £100, but in the long run you may end up paying a lot more in vets bills than you would from a reputable breeder.  These irresponsible breeders are contributing to the millions of young kittens/cats found in rescue centres across the world.  Please if you cannot afford to go to a reputable breeder for your kitten why not take a look at your local animal rescue centre.
 

What are BYB?

• They will breed cats that are not close to the Breed Standard

• They do not know what the breed standard is for that breed

• They breed cats which may have bad temperaments

• They breed cats which may have serious faults either cosmetic or genetic

• They do not know what genetic faults the breed may have

• They will breed the adult cat constantly  not allowing her to rest or get back into full health

• They will breed kittens even if they have no homes, if no homes are found they will then be put out onto the street

• Once the cat/kitten is sold they have no further contact with you and are never in when you call

• They sell to pet shops and will often raffle a kitten off as a top prize

• They never vaccinate the kittens

• Usually kittens are sold at 5/6 weeks

• Kittens are not weaned before they leave

• Kittens are not litter trained/wormed etc.

• Kittens are not sold with a contract

• Kittens will not be registered with the appropriate bodies, ie. GCCF/Fife/CFA etc.

• Cats maybe  allowed to roam outside therefore picking up any diseases that are present

• Cats are not regularly vaccinated and do not have health checks>

• A BYB will not allow you to go and visit the kittens unless they think they have a sale

• Sometimes both parents may not be available to view

The damage a BYB  can create is astronomical as most BYB do not require a contract signing saying that the kitten will be spayed/neutered, this therefore leads to a chain where everyone decides they will have a litter of kittens before they get her/him spayed/neutered.  It is a fact that in 6 years one un-spayed cat will be responsible for around 76,000 descendants, frightening isn't it, especially as 75% of these will end up in rescue centres.
 

ABC Bengals
"Kittens from championship winning lines"
ww.xyzbengals.com
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So what should I look for ?

A kitten that is 13 weeks

No physical sign of illness

Lift up the tail and check for signs of Diarrhoea

Do not choose a kitten that looks weak and ill just because you feel sorry for it

Check for pot bellies it may be that the kitten needs worming

Check in the ears to much wax may be a sign of earmites

What should I receive when purchasing my kitten?

Pedigree this should be at least 3 generations with Registration Numbers and must be signed by by the breeder.

GCCF Registration, unless otherwise agreed that this will not be provided, sometimes breeders may hang onto this until you provide proof of neutering or spaying.

Contract, most reputable breeders will provide you with a contract, please read this fully before signing.

Feed Guide, Please check with the breeder what food is being fed as a sudden change in diet can cause stomach upsets, its also a good idea to see which brand of litter they are using as a change can often result in accidents.

Insurance, some breeders will provide you with 6 weeks free insurance, this is usually with Pet Plan and after this period you are given the option to take out an annual policy, I would definitely recommend this and although Pet Plan may not be the cheapest they are one of the best, remember you only get what you pay for and some of the cheaper policies may have clauses.