Cross Breeds

Why are bengal cats soo damn expensive?

What makes them soo special that they cost a fortune? In my area they sell them anywhere from 400 to 1000 dollars!

Public Comments

1. They are rare and now a trendy animal. Supply vs. Demand.
2. supply and demand, go visit some shelters, you may get lucky.
3. I'm not fond of the breed, to be honest. I don't understand the current obsession with them either. I'd go for a Maine Coon or Russian Blue instead. Ridiculously affectionate little critters.
4. Not only the supply and demand for trendy or designer pets, but also, bengal cats have lineages of wild cats, which as far as I know, are pretty hard to come by, thus increasing the price of the offspring.
5. Because they are a newer breed, they are very popular too.
6. The main reason Bengals are so expensive is that they're a relatively new breed, and to "create" the Bengal cat is not an easy task. To create the Bengal breed, the serval (wild) Asian Leopard Cat is bread with a domestic cat, such as an Egyptian Mau. In order to even obtain a serval, one must be licensed and experienced (or have a mentor) in the handling, feeding, enclosure, health, and other such needs of a wild cat. Servals are simply not indoor "pet" cats. Owning a serval is a huge expense. Breeding a serval Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat gets tricky, and the first (and sometimes second) generation males (F-1/ F-2) are often sterile. Breeding is a very large expense as well, due to feeding, vetting, vaccination, and birthing needs for the mother and litter. Once you get to generation F-4, you've got a fully domestic breed of the Bengal cat, but as you see, in order to get to F-4 is not only a challenge, it's expensive. Breeders usually do not make a whole lot of money from their catteries, and the business of Bengals is mostly done out of love of the breed. If you're looking for a Bengal, but cannot afford the price, try The Bengal Cat Rescue Network, or www.petfinder.com. You are not likely to find a Bengal at your local shelter. You can also try to locate your nearest Bengal breeder and ask if they have any retired breeders for adoption. I bought 2 purrrfectly wonderful Bengal cats this way. I got my female Bengal when she was retired at 2.5 years old. She originally cost the breeder $2,500 + shipping + vet bills - but she only cost me $125 to adopt... I adopted a male retired breeder for $150, and he's 9 years old. Adopting these two have brought a lot of love and entertainment into our house, and they're the most amazing cats I've ever encountered. Please note that Bengal cats are not for everyone. They're extremely energetic, they demand a LOT of attention, and can become destructive if they become bored or feel neglected. It's really a lot like having a puppy around rather than a cat. This breed will not lay around the house all day and/or sleep in your lap. They must explore, run, jump, and have a high-protein diet. I hope this helps!