3 Main Factors Influencing The Cost Of Bengal Cats
You may have seen Bengal cats in the wild or on TV and been amazed by their exotic beauty, but you don’t know how much they cost. Bengal cats are a special breed.
They may be a lot of fun, but not everyone will like them. They need a lot of attention and activity, and some people might find them too active or independent.
How much does a Bengal cat cost?
The average price of a pet Bengal kitten from a reputable breeder is between $1,500 and $3,000 (USD).
So you’re saying that a Bengal cat costs on average $2,000 right now?
Yes! And there are other things that affect the price as well. People often think that the only difference between an “expensive” Bengal and a “cheap” Bengal is whether or not they have pedigree papers, but price shows so much more.
If you do it the right way, breeding Bengals could be a very expensive hobby. In fact, breeders who sell kittens for $2,000 often just make enough to cover their costs.
If you want to adopt a Bengal, you should know all the things that could affect the price so you can make an informed decision.
If you’re like this… Keep on reading!
Where do I find a Bengal Cat for sale?
First of all, where can you even buy a Bengal cat? What you need to know is:
It is important to make a choice based on good information.
- You plan to keep this animal for at least 15 years! Take your time when you do your research. This article will help you make an informed choice when it comes to important costs.
- Try to stay away from the usual “classifieds” sites.
- You should not use Craigslist, eBay Classifieds, or Hoobly. This will only lead you to backyard breeders or con artists. Usually, if something seems too good to be true, it is!
- The best way to get a Bengal kitten is to find and work with a reputable and honest breeder.
- These are people who want to make sure their kittens are healthy and show off everything good about the breed. When looking for a breeder, these prices are what you can expect to pay.
What can I expect at different price points for a Bengal cat?
The chart below shows how much you can expect to pay for a Bengal kitten in each price range. Please keep in mind that this is a price guide for an SBT Bengal kitten in US dollars as of 2022.
Under $500: Don’t go that way! This is either a fake or a backyard breeder.
$500-$1,000: Exercise caution. It’s probably a hoax or a backyard breeder.
The lowest price for a purebred Bengal kitten is between $1,000 and $1,500.
$1,500 to $2,000: is a good place to start.
$2,000-$2,500: is a little more, but still a very reasonable price for a Bengal kitten in 2022. Most likely, it came from a well-known breeder who has a lot of orders.
Over $2,500: This is a very expensive kitten, and it might come from a cattery that breeds champion cats.
What factors influence the price of a Bengal cat?
Price Factor #1: The Kitten’s Traits
A professional Bengal cat breeder can sell a purebred Bengal cat for anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000, depending on its age and looks. A healthy Bengal cat also costs between $50 and $200 per month to care for.
If you’re thinking about getting a Bengal cat, you may be wondering how much they cost. Bengals are a rare breed of cat that, depending on where you live, can be quite expensive.
A good breeder will usually sell a Bengal kitten for between $1,500 and $4,000. But the price of a Bengal kitten is affected by many things, some of which are listed below.
- The cat’s traits such as age, quality, temperament, and coat color,
- What’s included with the cat and
- The level of breeder care (which may possibly be the most important factor!)
Let’s take a closer look at each of these things.
Age
Some breeders sell kittens when they are only eight weeks old. Even though kittens of this age are cheaper, if they are weaned too young, they may have long-term problems with their behaviour, such as becoming aggressive or afraid.
Generation
Look for Stud Book Tradition (SBT) Bengals if you want to adopt a Bengal kitten. These cats are at least four generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat and are the result of Bengal cats breeding with other Bengal cats.
Bengals with more generations (called F2 or F3 Bengals) often cost more and may need more care.
So, SBTs are the best choice for people who own pets.
Quality
Demand
Some Bengal cats are much more expensive because they are in high demand and people want them.
Bengals with different colours and patterns on their fur may be “in style,” which would make them more popular and raise their prices.
Price Factor #2: What’s Included with Your Kitten
Aside from what kind of cat it is, the things that come with your kitten may have a big effect on how much it costs. Some Bengal cats often have one or more of the following traits:
- Are spayed or neutered,
- Are examined by the vet and have a clear health bill by a licensed veterinarian and
- All essential vaccinations completed and up to date.
Some Bengal cats come with toys, blankets, a cat wheel, and cat food to help them get used to their new home.
In general, the more extras you get with a Bengal cat, the higher the price.
Price Factor #3: Level of Breeder Care
You can easily figure out the above parameters, but deciding on the level of care the breeder gives will take a lot more research on your part.
After all, how much the breeder charges you shows how healthy and happy your pet will be. In addition, the best breeder will do all of the following for your cat:
Regular Health Check-ups and Screening
A good breeder will make sure that the cat gets regular health checks and screenings. Also, they will make sure that the breed has been checked for certain genetic diseases. There are three genetic diseases that are being checked for very carefully in Bengal cats.
- HCM,
- PRA, and
- PK-def
Because these are genetic tests, they are more expensive, so breeders who sell cheaper kittens can’t afford them.
Providing Appropriate Housing for the Kittens
Part of how much it costs to own a Bengal cat is how the breeder takes care of the cats. It costs less to keep a kitten in a cage than to keep a cat in an enclosed space.
Also, male and female Bengal cats must live in separate buildings with easy-to-clean outdoor enclosures that have enough space and the right temperature.
Provide for Quality Diet to Nursing Cats and Energetic Young Kittens
Since Bengal cats eat meat, they need to eat a lot of protein-rich meat. But because meat is expensive, it is expensive to feed Bengal cats a high-quality diet, which is important for both nursing cats and kittens who are still growing.
Spend Quality Time With the Kittens So They Learn to Socialize Better
Pay for Pet Registration
People often think that registered Bengal cats cost more than unregistered Bengal cats, and they’re right to think that.
Registered cats cost a lot because they give the breeder the right to make more cats. If you choose an unregistered breeder, you might be helping someone who breeds carelessly to make money.
Aside from the cat’s qualities and traits, you should also take the time to find out how much care the breeder gives to make sure you get the right pet.
Avoiding Scams & Backyard Breeders
In general, we recommend staying away from breeders who say their prices are less than $1,000. When a kitten costs this much, it’s often a sign of a scam or a “backyard breeder.”
Scams
A common scam is when someone takes your money but never gives you the thing they promised. Don’t be one of the people who get scammed.
A price that seems too good to be true should be a clear red flag. But some con artists can steal thousands of dollars from people who are too eager to get a kitten and don’t take the time or make the effort to study.
You can avoid getting ripped off if you do your research and talk to your breeder about the things we’ve talked about above. Nothing good will happen if you buy a kitten too quickly. You need to make sure you are talking to a legal breeder who has a real kitten for you.
If you can’t visit in person, you should get a lot of videos and ask the breeder to put the date and your name in one of the videos with the kitten. You can also use Skype or FaceTime.
Another kind of scam is when someone sells “half Bengals” for a few hundred dollars. Even though these kittens are cute and cheaper, don’t fall for them. This con artist will tell you that the litter happened by accident and that the kittens are now just looking for good homes.
If you don’t want a purebred Bengal, you can find a kitten who needs a home at a shelter that is JUST AS CUTE.
Backyard Breeders
A person who breeds purebred Bengals but takes short cuts to save money is called a “backyard breeder.” Because they are cheap, they can attract a larger number of buyers.
So long as there are buyers willing to support their methods, they can make more money than breeders who do things the right way. Please don’t buy like these people!
Money can be saved by backyard breeders in any of the following ways:
- Keeping cats in small, inexpensive cages instead of spacious enclosures.
- Skipping health screenings (and potentially breeding and selling cats affected by HCM, PK-def, or PRA).
- Not following good husbandry practices (like keeping a clean environment) in order to save time and money, which leads to the spread of disease and general poor cat health.
- Choosing to feed a poor/low quality diet.
- Sending kittens home way too early, sometimes at 8 weeks or younger (kittens should be going home at 12-16 weeks old). It’s very expensive to feed a litter of growing kittens, and much cheaper to “get rid of them” fast!
- Choosing inexpensive breeders cats that do not exemplify the breed in terms of appearance or temperament. The resulting kittens do not improve the Bengal breed and the effect is a “watered down” breed.
Even if I have to say it again, no unethical breeder should be helped. The small amount of money you’d save just isn’t worth it to you.
Please remember that not all backyard breeders will sell their animals cheaply. Because buyers don’t know what to look for, some sellers are still getting hundreds of dollars for their kittens. Use our “Choosing Your Bengal Breeder” worksheet when looking for a Bengal kitten.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Bengal Cat Every Month?
Bengal cats are demanding pets. Even though you have to pay a one-time adoption fee or fee to the breeder and put some money into setting up your pet at first, there are more costs that come with having a Bengal cat.
As a Bengal cat parent, you should remember that having a Bengal cat will cost you money every month. Here are some of those costs:
- Healthcare
- Food
- Grooming
- Medication
- Pet Insurance
- Maintenance of the environment, and
- Entertainment.
The above expenses can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 per month on average.
What if I can’t afford a Bengal?
If you’re looking for a Bengal cat for less than $1,000, we don’t want you to fall for a backyard breeder or a scam. You have three good, practical ways to get a Bengal for less money:
- Find a group that can help. You’ll have to be patient, because there won’t be much to choose from.
- Find a Bengal cat breeder who has recently retired.Again, there will probably be a very small number of spots and much stricter home screenings to find the best fit.
- Keep an eye out for an older kitten or adult being re-homed by a breeder. On rare occasions, a kitten or adult will be sent back to the breeder because it didn’t work out for some reason.
In all three cases, you should know that the cat or older kitten you will be getting might not fit in as easily as a young kitten. They may have special needs or have been moved because of something else.
You might need more experience and a lot of patience to stop cats from doing things they shouldn’t. When you give a cat who has been abandoned a forever home, it can be very rewarding.
Remember that there is no such thing as a free pet when it comes to Bengal cat prices.
Whether the initial cost is $2,000 or nothing, ALL dogs require food, supplies, and vet care.
According to articles like this one, it costs about $1,000 a year to own a cat. And you want this animal to be a part of your family for the next ten to fifteen years or more!
From this point of view, it’s easy to see why it’s much more important to carefully choose your breeder than to try to save a few dollars.
I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.
My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (912) 634-3631
Address: 102 Village Way Crk Saint Simons Island, Georgia(GA), 31522
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