This leopard-like canine combines grace and agility and is nothing like a docile housecat. Despite their resemblance to wild cats, Bengals are affectionate with their humans.
They are also playful, social, and packed with energy. The Bengal cat may keep you on toes but will offer the best companionship a feline can offer.
How Much Does a Bengal Cat Cost in India?
The price of a Bengal kitten in India ranges between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 500,000. Its price varies dramatically because of factors such as pedigree, the breeder you buy from, and the cat’s sub-breeds.
The rosette sub-breed is one of the most expensive Bengal cats, with the high price reflected on the coat’s unique markings.
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Bengal Cat in India
Quality of Breeder Care
The level of breeder care affects the price of the kitten.
Reputed breeders offer the best care for their litters, and they never compromise the wellbeing of their kittens for the sake of a more favorable price.
An ethical breeder will provide the following requirements to his litter:
Health Checks
A knowledgeable breeder is aware of the importance of testing his animals. But health checks need money.
Bengals specifically need to be screened for PK-def, HCM, and PRA. HCM, which is the most critical screening, costs Rs. 22,500 to Rs. 75,000 per cat, and it’s recommended that they are screened annually.
A kitten acquired from a breeder who does screening will cost more than one from a breeder who skips health checks.
Premium Diet
A reputed breeder will get their cats the best food, particularly for the nursing mothers and developing kittens.
Felines are primarily carnivores, so they constantly eat meat, which isn’t quite cheap.
Registration
Pedigreed Bengals cost more than non-pedigreed ones, but they are the best ones to purchase because breeders who offer pedigreed cats means they have registered and paid for breeding rights.
Otherwise, buying a Bengal from a breeder without breeding rights shows you’re supporting irresponsible breeding from someone who is only in it to make money.
Housing
Breeders who go out of their way to build the best shelters for their cats will charge expensively.
Furthermore, breeders who care for the wellbeing of their felines will never cage them because cats often need space to roam, including trees to climb on.
A quality and comfortable cat shelter in India costs Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 5,000.
Time
A breeder who spends more time with his pets will undoubtedly charge more to compensate. The time could be spent training, socializing, and cleaning the pets with their shelters.
Some breeders do not charge for extra time spent with their cats (they do so out of their love for the animals).
But beware of their level of devotion, for example, taking the time to talk with you concerning your pet of interest.
The Cat Package
These are the expenses that follow once you take your cat home.
Vaccinations
If your breeder hasn’t vaccinated the kitten yet, you are expected to do so immediately to protect against serious infections.
Vaccinations will cost you Rs. 7,000- Rs. 9,000.
Neutering/Spaying
Neutering or spaying your Bengal will prevent dealing with unwanted kittens later, especially if you are purchasing a female feline.
Neutering is usually done when the cat is at least four months old and costs Rs. 4,000-Rs. 5,000 for females and Rs. 3,000-Rs. 4,000 for male Bengals.
Microchipping
We recommend that you microchip your cat for easy tracking in case he goes missing.
Though microchipping of cats isn’t a legal requirement as in dogs, it does come in handy. Microchipping will cost around Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000.
Food
A Bengal’s diet should consist of 50%-80% protein every day.
Therefore, your daily food expense will vary between Rs. 30 and Rs. 80, depending on the brand of cat food you buy and how much food your kitty consumes.
Cat Insurance
A cat insurance policy covers you and your pet against unforeseen illnesses or accidents.
Taking a cat insurance policy also covers your Bengal against exorbitant vet charges, which serves to make your cat ownership stress-free.
Equipment
Cat ownership isn’t complete without having cat toys.
Felines especially love to chase things so; strings and softballs will come in handy. Also, invest in scratching poles to keep your cat’s scratchy paws off your furniture.
The Bengal’s Traits
Pet vs. Breeder vs. Show Quality
Though the pet quality Bengal is the most affordable and accessible to many people, you might consider other quality kittens, namely breeder quality and show quality.
Breeder quality Bengal has recommendable traits to preserve or enhance the breed. Registered breeders acquire breeder quality cats to breed them legally.
Show quality cats have desirable traits that qualify them to participate in cat shows. They are the most expensive because they come with showing rights. They often cost at least Rs. 250,000.
Demand
The higher the demand, the more the cost. The Bengal coat colors or patterns that are high in demand will cost more.
Additionally, rare coat colors and patterns will be highly-priced. The Bengal coat colors range from brown, charcoal, melanistic, silver, to snow. And the variety of coat patterns includes rosettes, marbling, and spots.
Generation
The most common and the best choice Bengal kitten is the SBT (Stud Book Tradition).
This means the kittens are bred from Bengals with at least four generations extracted from the Asian Leopard Cat.
Bengals of higher generations include F2 or F3, and they usually cost more because of additional care requirements.
Age
Bengal kittens between 12-16 weeks cost more than mature ones because they are expensive to feed and require a lot of care in terms of socializing and cleaning up after them.
An older Bengal is more affordable, but you have to equip yourself to help the kitty through a more difficult adjustment period.
About and History
The Bengal cat came from the Asian leopard cat, whose scientific name is Felis bengalensis.
Bengals are a crossbreed of the shorthaired domestic cat and the Asian leopard cat, which used to be sold at pet shops in the 1950s and 1960s.
The first known breeder of the Bengal was Jean Mill.
However, her breeding was an accidental discovery upon the mating of her leopard with her domestic black tomcat, resulting in spotted kittens.
At the same time, Dr. Willard Centerwall was crossing domestic cats with Asian leopard cats at Loyola University.
He was interested in seeing whether the resistance to leukemia virus observed in leopard felines could be passed onto hybrids.
Mill acquired some female hybrids from Dr. Centerwall and got two male felines to breed with them: one was a brown spotted cat she got from a shelter, and the other was an orange shorthair she brought from India.
Today, Bengals are harmless house cats, considering they have to be four generations down from their wild cat ancestors.
Bengal cats are highly-priced and one of the most sought-after felines in the world. They are said to be the Rolls Royce of felines.
Appearance
Bengals are medium to large, weighing 8-15 pounds and standing 13-16 inches tall.
The first and most notable thing about the Bengal cat is that they are leopard look-alikes characterized by rosettes or leopard spots that come in various colors, including black, chocolate brown, or rust.
Their coats also come in various colors consisting of brown, ivory, golden, orange, rust, and sand.
Some Bengals have a unique silverfish coat that shimmers in the light.
The Bengal facial features consist of a small round head, big eyes, and a distinctive facial marking.
Though small, their bodies are muscular, and their streamlined physique makes them look so much like their Asian leopard forefathers.
Their front legs are shorter than their hind legs, a characteristic that helps them stride gracefully but powerfully.
Temperament and Character
Due to its wildcat heritage, the Bengal cat is confident, intelligent, attentive, and energetic-all the required traits for survival in the wild.
Bengal felines make fun and challenging pets because they are playful, spontaneous, and socially active.
They make the best matches for energetic people who can engage with them at all times.
Because of their high IQ, Bengals can quickly pick up tricks such as skateboarding. They also enjoy playing chase and fetch.
A bored Bengal often displays unhealthy behaviors such as scratching furniture or excessive meowing.
Bengals are notorious for nosily going into things. You might find that your kitty has opened your underwear or goody drawer and made a mess or gone into the drawer where his food is to help himself.
The Bengal is oddly fond of water, unlike most other cat breeds. He is bound to hop into the shower with you or take a dive into the swimming pool. Be careful if you have a fish pond or aquarium as your fish may be at risk from his slithery paws.
Another amusing trait is that the Bengal is a climber. You will often find him at the highest point of your home, such as the Chandelier.
When he isn’t swimming or perching, the Bengal will be resting on your lap, and he will definitely share your bed.
Trainability
Bengal cats often have dog-like traits, which makes them highly trainable.
It takes patience to train a Bengal. It could be weeks or months before he fully complies with your commands.
It cuts across as weird having to walk your cat on a harness, but your Bengal will appreciate the outdoor roaming time. Remember, this kitty is loaded with energy and needs a lot of exercise.
Unlike dogs, cats are curious and like to examine everything around them. So, allow your Bengal the time to stroll along at his own pace when leash training.
If you’d like to transition your kitty’s potty from the litter box to the loo, start by placing the litter box next to the toilet, then start raising the box gradually until it’s at the same level as the toilet.
Then put the litter box on top of the toilet seat and let it stay there for 4 to 5 days. After your kitty gets used to this, secure the cat training seat on the toilet.
It takes around two weeks for a Bengal to use the loo without accidents. After that, you remove the seat.
Grooming
While a bath is hardly necessary with the Bengal, weekly combing helps to remove dead hair.
Brush its teeth every week to avoid periodontal diseases. Inspect his ears every week and wipe them with cotton wool moistened with a 50-50 mixture of warm water and cider vinegar.
Bengals are very fussy about dirty litter boxes. If you haven’t trained your Bengal to use the toilet yet, ensure the litter box is clean at all times, so he doesn’t start going to other places around the house.
Do Bengal cats make good house pets?
Yes. Bengal cats are fun to watch and play with. They are smart, highly trainable and water-lovers, which makes them great family pets. They are also great communicators and interact well with people and other pets.
Is Bengal cat expensive?
Definitely, Bengal cats are such exotic breeds that they are highly priced. Being considered the Rolls Royce of felines, people would pay even up to Rs. 250,000 to own a Bengal. They are, therefore, one of the most expensive cat breeds.
What is so unique about Bengal cats?
Bengal cats are highly-sought after for their bold leopard-like patterned coats. They look like the wild leopard but smaller and less vicious. So, don’t worry- the Bengal doesn’t bite. However, they are one of the most intelligent cat breeds, making them easy to train, much like dogs.
It is both challenging and fun to own a Bengal cat. Though quite pricy, you will never regret raising this feline. He has a bountiful personality packed in his tiny body that will always be an amusement to watch and play with.