These spots set them apart from all other domestic cats. These dependable animals are great with kids because of their extremely playful nature. They are also known to be incredibly smart and love enriching activities. However, this active cat comes at a price due to its rarity.
Price Factor #1: The Kitten’s Traits
Generation
The majority of Bengal kittens available for adoption are SBT (Stud Book Tradition) Bengals. These kittens are at least four generations away from the Asian Leopard Cat and are the offspring of Bengals mating with other Bengals. Higher generation Bengals, sometimes known as F2 or F3 Bengals, are more expensive and require more upkeep if you come across them. SBT’s are generally the best choice for a pet owner.
Quality
The level of breeder care (which we’ll talk about in a minute) shows in the quality of the kitten you’re looking at. Healthy, energetic, bright-eyed kittens with stunning, sleek coats (once they’re out of the fuzzy stage) is what you’ll generally want to look for. But if you learn about Bengal Type, you’ll be able to recognize many other unique physical traits of the Bengal cat breed that may go unappreciated to the untrained eye.
When breeding for quality, breeders must pay a hefty price—up to tens of thousands of dollars—for cats with breeding rights from quality lines. Breeders must raise their prices for their kittens as a result of their efforts to preserve and advance the Bengal breed.
Additionally, some breeders decide to charge different prices for different kittens depending on how well-groomed they are.
Be aware that when searching for a Bengal, some kittens may be listed as pets instead of breeder vs. show quality. While a typical Bengal cat might be considered pet quality, some very special kittens are classified as show or breeder quality. A kitten with breeder quality has excellent qualities that make it perfect to pass on to future generations in an effort to maintain or advance the Bengal breed. This kitten would be sold with breeder rights, enabling the registered breeder to lawfully breed it. Show quality is a step above breeder quality. It indicates that the kitten possesses every quality you look for in a Bengal and has the potential to do exceptionally well in a cat show. A Bengal that comes with displaying rights would cost more.
Everything we talked about above regarding pricing can be ignored by anyone who wants to show or breed Bengals. Breeding or show rights come with much higher prices, typically starting at $2,500 and going up to tens of thousands of dollars. Bengals of show or breeder quality are priced based on their appearance, pedigree, or potential contributions to a breeding program.
Age
A cheap kitten that is allowed to go home at 8 weeks or less is a serious red flag because growing kittens are expensive to feed and require a lot of time to socialize and clean up after. The kitten will suffer as a result of the breeder’s attempt to save money.
Too soon weaned kittens can have behavioral problems for the rest of their lives, such as fear and aggression. Due to the increased expense of raising them and the additional time needed for socialization, a kitten that is adopted between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks may be slightly more expensive, but the kitten will grow up to be considerably more socially mature.
Conversely, there might be instances where a breeder received a returned kitten due to an uncommon situation, and as a result, the breeder is currently seeking a new home for an older kitten. Adult kittens may fetch a lower price because the new family might feel that they were deprived of experiencing kittenhood. If you’re ready to assist the older kitten through a more challenging transition, this can be a great way to get a more “affordable” Bengal.
Demand
The price of a certain Bengal increases with the level of demand. Bengals can have coat colors ranging from Brown to Silver to Snow to Charcoal to Melanistic. Additionally, there are numerous patterns, such as marbling, spotted, and various kinds of rosettes. Certain colors and styles of coats might be “trending,” which could increase demand and drive up prices. A color’s rarity can also have an impact on its price.
The local supply and demand in your area may also have an impact on price. A lengthy waiting list of people hoping to purchase a Bengal kitten from reputable breeders may result in increased costs. Or maybe there’s just not as many quality breeders as there are in demand in your area.
And even though Bengals aren’t usually priced based on their abilities, the demand for a cat that can skateboard would likely drive up the cost of a Bengal cat with those skills
What Color of Bengal Cat is Most Expensive?
Silver Pixie Bengal cats are the priciest color. The highly sought-after Silver Pixie Bengal is named after its distinctive coat pattern, which resembles that of a snow leopard. A Silver Pixie kitten may cost up to $8000, contingent on its pedigree and bloodline. In addition, they are among the rarest Bengal Cat colors and are less common than other colors.
When it comes to endurance and physical strength, the Bengal is among the strongest cats.
How Much Does a Bengal Kitten Cost?
The price of buying a Bengal cat can vary based on the breeder you select. A reliable breeder of Bengal cats is committed to raising cats of superior quality and providing excellent care for them. Due to their investments in genetic testing and breeding programs, they might charge more. But lower prices could be charged by amateur breeders or kitty mills, which breed cats just for profit.
A Bengal kitten’s cost varies according to the breeder, the cat’s age, and its pedigree. On average, a Bengal kitten costs between $1,500 to $2,500. The average tends to be about $2,000. However, costs can vary from $800 to $10,000 or more in price.
Charcoal Bengals are characterized by a cape along their spine and a dark mask on their faces.
A Bengal cat’s cost can be influenced by a number of things in addition to the breeder. The cat’s pedigree is important because kittens from champion or award-winning parents typically fetch higher prices. Additionally, cats with unique coat patterns or uncommon bloodlines may cost more.
The location of a Bengal kitten can affect its cost. Due to strong demand, the price may be higher in areas where the breed is rare. On the other hand, the cost may be less in areas where the breed is common.
FAQ
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