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Writer's pictureNatalie Ahlgren

What Is A "Real" Bengal Cat?


Unfortunately, a large number of rogue players in the cat and dog market abound. No exception for Bengals. Lots of ads where you claim to have Bengal kittens to sell, but where it is in fact about domestic cats. Sometimes with some Bengal in itself, but at least as often without a trace of Bengal in the genes. It is important to know what to buy. Domestic cats are just as lovable as purebred cats. But bought / procured completely without guarantees for any future problems. Therefore, they also cost significantly less money when buying, as you as a future owner must be prepared for "anything". Everything from a long-lived fantastically healthy friend to an disharmonious poor man who can develop everything from behavioral disorders / aggression to life-threatening illnesses. And everything in between. Nature does not adapt cats to live family life. Cats are predators, small solitary hunters that we have chosen to invite into our lives and homes. This is where the purebred cat breed fulfills an important function. We breeders put more lots of work on health and temperament, to breed cats that are of solid quality inside and out.

Kungsgarden Keep Lovin 'Lo, a real luxury cat!


How do you know then, if you have decided to get a purebred cat, that it is a purebred individual you are buying? There are some very simple things that characterize it. If the breeder / seller cannot leave and show that these criteria are met, it is simply not a purebred, seriously bred cat that has been found. Registration and pedigree are A and O! In some cases, the breed may be right, but if the seller for various reasons has not registered the litter, it is not right anyway. In these cases, you can be absolutely sure that the seller did not follow the other commitments that come with serious breeding either. Registering kittens is the small cost in this context. There is no reason in the world if you have seriously skipped that bit. Arguments from the seller / breeder such as "what does a small piece of paper mean" are often heard and as I said, well that means everything. It's simply the little cat's ID document. A document of value! Probably the kittens' parents are not registered either, at least not both, and then you can never get paperwork on the cubs either. Ie bushwhacker and dodgy stuff in many stages. Becomes exactly the same as buying a domestic cat but often at such a much higher price.


Foto: Selldén photo, KungsgardenCats Freedom Glider


The desire is to have a cat that is as adapted and safe as possible just for the outcome to be as successful as we all hope for and and know is possible. A friend for life for many wonderful years. Then, of course, different races offer different types of company, and we who want extra everything join Bengal! How do you know then, if you have decided to get a purebred cat, that it is a purebred individual you are buying? There are some very simple things that characterize it. If the breeder / seller cannot leave and show that these criteria are met, it is simply not a purebred, seriously bred cat that has been found. Registration and pedigree are A and O! In some cases, the breed may be right, but if the seller for various reasons has not registered the litter, it is not right anyway. In these cases, you can be absolutely sure that the seller did not follow the other commitments that come with serious breeding either. Registering kittens is the small cost in this context. There is no reason in the world if you have seriously skipped that bit. Arguments from the seller / breeder such as "what does a small piece of paper mean" are often heard and as I said, well that means everything. It's simply the little cat's ID document. A document of value! Probably the kittens' parents are not registered either, at least not both, and then you can never get paperwork on the cubs either. Ie bushwhacker and dodgy stuff in many stages. Becomes exactly the same as buying a domestic cat but often at such a much higher price.


Pedigree from SVERAK, a registration certificate! A document of value.


Being a breeder and offering purebred kittens for sale should mean a quality stamp and the buyer should have visited pages with information about the breed so you are familiar with which health tests breeders of the particular breed can be expected to have order. If the breeder cannot respond to that, he is not serious. What should I ask if the cat has / gets with it then? There is a little difference between the different unions. We have three international cat associations where you as a Swede can reggae your purebred cats: Fife - is found mainly in Europe, but is also found in Asia and South America, the Swedish branch is called SVERAK - the largest and most common union in Sweden. All cats registered here receive a pedigree, and it must always accompany the cat. Sverak also has a public pedigree online where you can check in advance if the parents are registered (if the breeder claims that this is the case) TICA- spread all over the world and is quite common in Sweden as well. Cats registered in TICA receive a so-called "green slip" A certificate that is green, contains all the cat's information, except the cat's pedigree backwards (parents only), and must accompany the cat. You can also request a pedigree for the cat you buy and the breeder must always be prepared to help order for the customer, even if some breeders have to pay for it themselves. WCF- the third union, and least common. There, all cats get a pedigree, which must accompany the cat. Neither WCF nor TICA has a pedigree online, unfortunately, but as a buyer you always have the right to ask to see the parents' pedigrees. If it's about buying an adult or imported purebred cat, there are a few small foreign associations the cat can have a pedigree in, but it is not a man as a Swedish breeder to register Swedish-born cats, but then it is the 3 above that apply. Never ever pay over SEK 3-4000 for a cat without a pedigree. It is to be regarded as a domestic cat even if it has an exciting exterior.


An exciting exterior opch spotted, but not a bengal for that! 😉


If you get a pedigree, look for the name SVERAK; TICA or WCF on it! Many have their own laminate machines… There must be some form of watermark or other certification mark in holographic style. We see horrible examples of Blocket with cats that are advertised as Bengals at full price but do not contain a trace of Bengals. People become terrified of the audacity of people to take advantage of the popularity of purebred cats. And as an ignorant buyer, it is easy to believe that a high price automatically means pedigree and serious breeding, that a perhaps a little dubious appearance is something that will settle down over time. Mother cat should always be present when visiting kittens younger than 12 weeks. Can suggest that SVERAK has a page called Buy Cat, where you can search by breed and / or county for registered breeders. http://xn--kpakatt-90a.se/ Good luck with your cat purchase!

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