Q. Do Bengals get along with other animals?

A. Yup, for the most part! Bengals are very social animals and get along well with most dogs and cats. Most are happier with a companion pet! Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, as some Bengals will do better on their own.

Q. How are Bengals with young kids?

A. Of course, all Bengals are different and their upbringing will partly determine how they react to children. Here at Love Whispurrs Cattery, all of our Bengals are raised in our home, socialized with our children, and are used to being picked up and carried around by them (maybe a little too often!). They usually do very well with young children and are great family pets!

Q. How big do Bengals get?

A. Surprisingly, the size of a typical house cat. Bengals have very long bodies and are quite muscular cats. Females average 6-10lbs; males average 10-14lbs. Bengals tend to average about 20-25 cm in height, 36-46 cm in body length, and have a typical lifespan of 9-15 years.

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Of course there is always the possibility of them being bigger or smaller.

Q. How much do Bengals cost?

A. Our Bengals vary in price according to their quality, and colour. Please check out our Pricing page.

Q. How do you determine prices for your Cats/Kittens?

A. Each kitten is individually priced based on various factors. There is a standard for Bengals with TICA, and the closer the kittens/cats are to that standard the higher the price. Kittens are judged on head and body structure, ear size, shape, and position on the head, eye shape and size, profile, chin, length and thickness of tail, coat texture, clarity of coat, and flow of markings. 

Q. What is their temperament like?

A. Typically, Bengals are very social. Of course, this depends on their upbringing and environment. They tend to greet people that come into your home, snuggle on or under blankets, talk to you (some are VERY vocal), play in the dish water, drink from the tap, watch (or join) you in the shower, play fetch, keep you company in the bathroom, get into things they aren't supposed to, investigate every area they can access, play with anything small items (elastics, bottle caps, pipe cleaners), go for walks, and much more! Bengals often do not like to be picked up and carried around, but do like to snuggle beside or on you, when they decide they want to.

Q. I work full time and do not have other pets; will a Bengal do well in my house?

A. Likely not! Bengals are very social animals and do not do well if left alone for more than a few hours a day, without an animal companion.  If you are away from the home quite often during, you will either need to get a second Bengal, or a higher energy domestic cat. If you don't get a second cat, your Bengal may become unhappy. The most common way a Bengal will let you know they are unhappy is to start peeing outside of the litter box, usually on beds, clothing, sofas. They may also start playing very aggressively.

Q. Do Bengals need a special diet?

A. No but, the best diet for all cats is a well balanced, high quality diet - preferably raw. Lots of people suggest totally raw diets (either in canned form, home cooked/boiled with a completer to supplement essential vitamins and minerals, or store bought freeze dried raw). Cats are obligate carnivores and some are not able to digest grains, fruits, or vegetables well.  There is so much info out there about the best foods, but speaking with your vet and also professionals who work in pet stores, will help you make the best choice for your cat/kitten.

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Please note, if your cat/kitten is having loose bowel movements, there is a good chance it could be a food intolerance (as long as the vet has ruled out health concerns). Chicken seems to be a huge culprit causing stomach problems in cats. Try switching food slowly to a sensitive, limited ingredient (no chicken) diet over about a week's time - and see if your cat improves.   

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For more info on feeding a raw diet check out these links:

Spruce Pets Raw Diet
Cat Info

Pets MD
Feline Nutrition Foundation
Raw Food Diet Info

 

There is so much information out there regarding raw diets and recipes for cats and I encourage you to do some research! 

Q. What kind of litter do you use?

A. We use pine pellets for our kittens. It is not a clumping litter, which means less work because there is no scooping needed for pee! The pine absorbs the urine (and completely absorbs the ammonia smell) and turns into saw dust. Once it starts tracking out of the litter box too much you just dump the whole thing, wash, and put in fresh pellets. It is very cheap and you only need enough in the litter box to cover the bottom because it expands as it turns to sawdust.

Q. Why are your kittens so expensive? I've seen Bengal kittens advertised on Kijiji for only $400.

A. All of our Bengals are registered with TICA (The International Cat Association) and all of our litters are registered. This proves that they are Purebred Bengals and that we have breeding rights to produce kittens. We do a lot of testing on our adult breeding Bengals to ensure they are in top condition for breeding. Our kittens get all of their shots to date and are dewormed several times to ensure they are coming to you healthy. We give a one year health guarantee for congenital health defects, and a 72 hour complete health guarantee (as long as they are kept isolated from other animals). We also provide support after you buy your kitten, if you have any questions about your kitten, we are here for you 100%!

If you are purchasing a Bengal from a "breeder" that does not have registered Bengals, there is no guarantee that they sell purebred Bengals. It may grow up to have poor clarity in its markings and have physical qualities not that of a purebred.

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"Backyard Breeders", (not registered) have failed to neuter or spay their kitten(s) or cat(s), likely without the consent of the breeder. They do not have registration papers for proof that the kitten or cat is a purebred Bengal, and may not follow proper breeding guidelines provided by The International Cat Association.

Q. Do you have any Bengals available?

A. Check out our Available Kitten page! If we do not have any kittens available, see the next question about how to get on your Wait List. We will post upcoming litters, so keep an eye out for those!

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Q. How can I get on your Wait List?

 

A. The first step is to fill out our Wait List Application Agreement! We also require a $300 NON REFUNDABLE deposit to secure your spot on the list. Because we are a small cattery, we do not have a long wait for kittens at this time. Typically, when we have a litter, we will be able to match you to the perfect kitten!

Q. I have allergies to cats, but I've heard that Bengals are hypoallergenic. Is this true?

A. Yes, but also no.

 

Hypoallergenic means they have less dander and allergens compared to other cat breeds. You really need to test how you react to Bengals to know for sure. We encourage you to spend some time with our cats and see how you react to them. This may mean petting them vigorously and putting your face in their fur, to ensure you really see how you will react. 

 

Everyone's allergies are different and every cat is different, so it is best to test your allergies before committing to one of our kittens! That being said, typically people react much less with Bengals over other breeds.

 

Q. Do Bengals shed?

 

A. They sure do! Like all animals (and humans) with hair, they shed! I do find the shedding less than the average domestic cat, but there is still fur everywhere!


Q. My Bengal has started peeing everywhere, why is he/she doing this? Please tell me how to make it stop!

A. Of course there isn't a one answer fits all, but typically it happens when they are unhappy about something. The first thing you should do is take your Bengal to the vet and have them checked for a UTI, just to be sure it's not something medical. If nothing medical shows up, then you need to think about any changes that may have taken place in your home recently. It could be something small like routines changing (spending less time at home, playing with your Bengal less), a stray cat walking outside near your home, not enough litter boxes (you should have one for each cat plus an extra one, more if you have many levels in your home), your cats not getting along, not having a closely bonded high energy playmate for your cat, not providing your cat with enough stimulation (interactive toys, cat wheel, walks outside on a leash), or welcoming a new baby in the family... just to name a few things! 

If the thing that is upsetting your Bengal cannot be changed, then the first thing you need to do to re-train your Bengal (ideally before it becomes a habit).

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STEP 1: Put him/her in a small bathroom with litter box, food, and water for 3 days. DO NOT let him out during this time at all, although you should go in to visit with him/her.

 

STEP 2: Clean all the areas he/she has peed with an enzyme cleaner or vinegar in the bathroom.

 

STEP 3: After the 3 days let him/her out, If he/she pees inappropriately again then immediately put him/her back in the bathroom for another 3 days.

 

STEP 4: Continue these steps until he/she stops this behavior, (typically just a few times in the bathroom and it should stop).

There are times where this method will not work, or that it will only lessens the behavioral issue... and you may still find pee in inappropriate places occasionally. If this is the case, try using a Feliway plugin diffuser or spray and/or a calming collar. Trying out an unscented clumping litter may also help.

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Still have questions? Feel free to contact us, we are happy to help!

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