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What is better than having a Bengal Cat? These are not typical felines that are standoffish and independent. Instead, the Bengal Cat is beautiful, friendly, and fun!
Are you thinking about adopting a Bengal Cat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. It’s important to know how much it costs to adopt one of these beauties and the other expenses that go with being the pet parent of a cat!
We’ve put together information about Bengal cats, how much it may cost to adopt one, and other expenses to consider when adopting a feline fur baby. Let’s get started!
What is a Bengal Cat?
Bengal Cats look wild but are quite domesticated! The cats were first developed by crossing an Asian leopard cat with domestic shorthairs. In fact, the very first litter of Bengal Cat kittens was an unexpected accident! Over time, however, breeders caught on to this idea and began breeding Bengal Cats.
The first cat association to recognize Bengal Cats was the International Cat Association, which gave the breed full recognition in 1991.
When it comes to personality, the Bengal Cat is very active and highly intelligent. They’re fun to live with, though it’s no surprise they may also be a little challenging. However, these cats are very confident, talkative, and friendly cats. They’re usually on alert and love to play. They also can be trained to fetch and learn tricks! Some pet parents say their cats are more like dogs than felines!
These are cats that love playing in the water! If you’re in the shower or the tub, don’t be surprised if your fur baby joins you! Because these cats love water, they may also go after fish in aquariums or backyard ponds. So, it’s to keep the cats away from fish.
The cats also love to climb, finding the highest perch in the house! You may want to consider adding a very tall cat tree (or two) to your home for your fur baby. These cats also excel at cat puzzle toys. You don’t want a Bengal Cat to become bored! If bored, one of these cats can become destructive. So, it’s essential to keep them occupied with toys and activities (such as cat trees).
When they’re not busy playing and looking for adventures, Bengal Cats love to be lap kitties. They’re very affectionate felines!
Bengals have short, thick coats that are easy to care for. They only need once a week brushing or combing to remove dead hair. And they rarely need a bath. Their fur feels very soft and silky and comes in different colors and patterns. You can see Bengal Cats with brown tabby, seal mink tabby, black silver tabby, and seal silver lynx points. However, their coats can also be spotted, have horizontal patterns, or even marbled with horizontal stripes.
Bengal Cats are great with kids and cat-friendly dogs! The cats love to play fetch and more, and they love all the attention lavished on them by kids who treat them correctly. They’ve even been known to make friends with dogs! However, these cats have a high prey drive and don’t do well with other small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, or hamsters.
Bengal Cats are about 17 to 12 inches long (not including their tail) and weigh between 8 to 17 lbs. They have a life expectancy between 10 to 16 years. These kitties make great feline companions, even for families with young kids.
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Bengal Cat?
The cost of adopting a Bengal Cat varies based on where you adopt the cat. For instance, it’s possible to get a free Bengal Cat! You may have family, friends, colleagues, or even a neighbor who gifts one of these beautiful cats to you. What a gift to receive!
There are other places to adopt a Bengal Cat, too. However, it’s imperative to avoid adopting of these amazing felines from backyard breeders or puppy mills. The cats that come from these sources are usually not healthy and may have behavioral problems. The best places to adopt a Bengal cat are from a reputable breeder or a shelter.
If you adopt your fur baby from a reputable breeder, the cost of adopting can be high. A Bengal Cat from a reputable breeder may cost between $1,500 to $3,000 or more. Expect to pay much more for a cat with superior bloodlines.
If that price is prohibitive to your budget, don’t despair! It may be possible to adopt a Bengal Cat from a shelter. A Bengal Cat may cost between $100 to $300 from a shelter. Some find adoption fees in this price range to be expensive. However, consider that shelters are non-profit organizations. The money they receive goes to pay for shelter, food, and medical expenses for the pets in their care. So, the adoption fee you pay helps the shelter to care for another pet in need.
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Ask a Vet Live NowOther Costs to Consider When Adopting a Bengal Cat
In addition to the adoption fee, it’s necessary to also consider the other expenses that go along with adopting a beautiful Bengal Cat! We’ve put together a list of items and supplies your feline fur baby will need when she first comes home!
- Collar: $10 to $25
- Food & water bowls: $10 to $20
- Cat carrier: $40 to $60
- Scratching post: $20 to $40
- Toys: $11 to $32
- Hair brush: $7 to $15
- Harness: $8 to $16
- Cat food: $30 to $40/month
- Cat bed: $15 to $35
- Cat tree: $60 and more
These are the initial costs that go with adopting a Bengal Cat. However, you’ll also need to factor in medical expenses, including regular checkups, vaccinations, and medical treatment.
Summing It Up
As you can see, the adoption cost of Bengal Cats varies, depending on where you adopt your feline companion. And there are other expenses to consider that go with adopting one of these beautiful cats.
But one thing we’re sure of is that you’ll have a wonderful Bengal Cat fur baby companion for many years to come!
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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