Have you researched this breed extensively? Bengals can be demanding animals that need to expend more energy than most cat breeds. Also, if you devoted the same amount of time to it, any "ordinary" cat could be taught to fetch, walk on a leash, and greet you at the door. There's a lot of people who buy expensive pets, decide they don't want it after the novelty of having a unique pet wears off (or it grows into a destructive adult, because the owner doesn't quite understand how to help the animal expend its energy properly), and then abandon it, or give it to a shelter, where it would most likely be euthanized.
Rescue cats are just as good as pure-breeds, anyway. They can be just as loving, loyal, and anything you want them to be. Also, they will most likely have extra love to give since they're grateful for being taken out of the nasty shelter.
If you still want a bengal, try looking through petfinder.com. You might come upon a mix or even a pure breed. It's worth a shot.
Last edited by 3FCer344892; 06-27-2012 at 10:15 AM.
Have you researched this breed extensively? Bengals can be demanding animals that need to expend more energy than most cat breeds. Also, if you devoted the same amount of time to it, any "ordinary" cat could be taught to fetch, walk on a leash, and greet you at the door. There's a lot of people who buy expensive pets, decide they don't want it after the novelty of having a unique pet wears off (or it grows into a destructive adult, because the owner doesn't quite understand how to help the animal expend its energy properly), and then abandon it, or give it to a shelter, where it would most likely be euthanized.
I'm sorry but I'm a little offended. We're two adults who aren't leaping into buying a cat just because it's pretty, yes we've done the research, we know people who own these cats, have met the cats themselves and have read as much material as we can get our hands on. Assuming that we'll tire of it or improperly raise it and subsequently give it to a shelter to be euthanized is rude and narrow-minded. I've had my fair share of unique pets throughout my life (a parrot, a corn snake, pitbull, and a rotweiller) and all of these animals have lived happy, fulfilling lives.
Fair enough. As long as you've done the research and prepared for everything. Not everyone takes the time to research breeds, which was what I was getting at. Most people just jump into things, but if you know what you're getting into then by all means, enjoy your kitty and give it the best life you can.
Last edited by 3FCer344892; 06-28-2012 at 12:00 AM.
I apologize for getting my hair up and being rude, it wasn't the right thing to do. We've been getting so much flak for wanting an exotic breed and so many people instantly judge that we're getting a breed without due research that it's begun grating on my nerves. But you had no way of knowing that.
I apologize for getting my hair up and being rude, it wasn't the right thing to do. We've been getting so much flak for wanting an exotic breed and so many people instantly judge that we're getting a breed without due research that it's begun grating on my nerves. But you had no way of knowing that.
AgAin, apologies.
If you're not prepared to get the flak, you might not be ready to get the cat. Whenever you make a non-mainstream choice (no matter what kind of choice it is), many mainstream, average people are going to be uncomfortable with your choice - so if you can't take the "heat" with grace and humor, you might not be prepared for the choice.
I'm not saying this to be rude, just the truth is you're going to receive flak for the entire life of your kitty, because your exotic choice is going to make many people uncomfortable, just because it's outside the norm, and because many people ARE philosophically opposed to spending that kind of money on a pet (no matter what kind of money the prospective owner has) when so many pets are homeless. Some people are morally opposed to pure bred pet animals in general, and others are morally opposed to intentionally breeding mixed breeds, especially mixed breeds with wild ancestors - such as wolfdogs and quite frankly, bengal cats.
And people share their opinions, especially when moral codes are involved, and/or when unusual choices are involved. People are naturally suspicious of unusual choices, and it may not be right, but it's part and parcel of making an unusual choice - you're going to get feedback and it's most of it's not going to be positive.
If you can't "not care" what other people think, this may not be the choice for you. If you can't react calmly without taking offense from a stranger, the opinions of your family, friends, and close acquaintences is going to be unbearable.
I speak from experience. I've had pet rats (which in my opinion, are far less exotic, and definitely far less expensive than wild hybrids like bengal cats) and if I hadn't had a thick skin for criticism, and didn't see the humor in it, I would have been miserable. Instead, I had to take the ribbing, criticisms, and comments with grace and humor.
There are some very legitimate criticisms of both rats and bengals as pets. Most of the criticisms are simply based on personal beliefs about which animals make good pets, and which do not, and or what expense is appropriate for a pet, and other purely emotionally triggered reactions.
Rats have been popular pets for hundreds of years. Bengals have been bred as pets only for the last 80 years or so, and the breed didn't become popular until the 1960's. It's also important to know how many generations have passed from the kitten's wild ancestor. F1 (first generation crosses) of any wild animal/domestic animal cross tend to be quite unpredictable in temperment and it takes a very special owner to be prepared not only for the special challenges of owning an exotic breed, but also for the social backlash. People have rational and irrational reasons for objecting to ownerships of such breeds, and you're going to hear those opinions whether they're rational or not. It comes with the territory of owning an exotic or unusual pet.
You're going to get all sorts of reactions from confusion to passionate anger, and if you're not prepared to get those reactions, you may want to reconsider your choice of pet and may want to get a pet that fewer people object to (or you might consider lying and telling folks you adopted the critter from a rescue - some people will still be critical of your choice, but you'll at least defect the expense-related criticisms).
I do have some concerns about domestic/wild crosses. I'm not going to share them, because you really don't want to hear them, but if I were a close friend or family member, I probably would voice my concerns. Not because I would think you hadn't considered the problems, but because I'd want to make sure that you had. A great number of people who think they're prepared, really aren't.
I thought I wanted a wolf-dog hybrid about fifteen to twenty years ago. I REALLY, REALLY wanted one, and was convinced I was prepared and planned on buying one as soon as I could afford to house one properly. That day never came, and now I'm 46 and on disability for health and mobility issues. Even a husky or malamute (much lower-maintenance dogs) would have been a disaster, because I'm now in a position in which I would have had to rehome an animal. And unfortunately, wolf-dog hybrids are often one-person animals to the point that they never adjust to a new owner, and many humane societies euthanize them on principle, because they can be too dangerous to rehome.
Now the domestic cats with wild ancestors like the Bengal, the Savannah and the Cheetoh aren't going to be as dangerous as a wolf-dog, because of their size, but many other "wild" behaviors can still be a problem (agression towards small children, potty training incidents and stubborness, marking...)
You know this already, but many of the people who've said they've done the reasearch, really haven't - so it's understandable that strangers who don't know you, might think you haven't thought this through. Many relatives are going to think the same thing. And if you're not prepared for questions, comments, and a great deal of positive AND negative attention and feedback, then you're not prepared to own the cat - because unless you cut off all contact with people, you're going to get questions, odd looks, and unsolicited opinions.
I'm not saying you can't become as ready to deal with people as you are to deal with the cat, but if you want the cat, get ready for the comments, questions, raised-eyebrows, and criticisms. The one thing you can count on is people giving you their honest opinions, and if they think your choice is strange, foolish, naive, or just plain old wrong - they're going to tell you so. If you're not ready for that - get ready or decide on a less controversial pet.
Don't worry about it! It's perfectly fine. For the longest time I fantasized of owning a wolf-hybrid or a serval/savannah, but I realize that I can't afford them where I'm at now. Good for you having the resources and open-mindness to have this experience, though. It sounds very exciting, and I apologize if my comment came across as rude. I didn't mean it that way.
I don't want this to turn into a shelter vs. purebreed argument but there's a couple of ideas here I wish to talk about.
I've worked in a shelter in a large city and have personally put animals down, so I know what I'm talking about. I've also taken animals home from that same shelter. While MOST animals in a shelter are perfectly fine, there are some that are not. Unfortunately most of the animals in the shelter I worked at came in as strays and they obviously weren't. They were likely someone's pet with no tags. Real strays don't come near you. I had one bite completely through my boot.
What you really are paying for when you purchase a pure breed over a non is a better chance of getting an animal you want. You can better predict the character of an animal with a known history rather than one without. There are obviously exceptions. (I have one.)
I guess the moral of the story is to get whatever pet you want, but to be prepared to deal with the unknown. He (or she) may turn out completely different from what you expect.
The last thing I have to say is to everyone who might read this:
PUT A COLLAR AND TAG ON YOUR PET EVEN IF THEY ARE INDOORS ALL THE TIME. Microchipping is even better, but still keep the collar and tag on.
It's your money & your choice. Get whatever you want.
I, personally, have severe issues with "buying" a "pet'. I have four rescued pets - two dogs & two cats. One of my dogs is a pure bred Tibetan Spaniel. He's no more special than my Jack Russell/Dachshund mix, or either of my two cats, one which was adopted from my vet's office and one which was found on the side of the road where I work. I maintain the mantra "Don't breed or buy while homeless pets die." But that's just me.
Good luck with your Bengal kitty, if that's what you decide to get. They ARE really cool cats!
There are soooo many perfectly healthy animals that are in cages in shelters that I can't imagine why anyone would be looking to create more and different varieties. It's sad that we have 'throw-away' animals...
I know what you mean, Exhale15. I wish I could adopt all those kitties/puppies. I am about to get a girl kitten that came as a result of a pregnant stray that showed up at my mom's. She's absolutely beautiful. A silver/gray tabby with SPOTS and pale, pale green eyes. Her name is Mado. Expect a new picture to go up on my signature soon. lol.
Get what you want, you have the finances for it and it’s in two years anyways. So it’s pretty clear you’re not jumping the gun on this and you’re giving it time before you get one. People are ALWAYS going to voice their opinions on what you want. I went to a shelter a couple of years ago to get a kitten. (two actually). I remember looking in the glass and saw nothing, and off to the corner was a smaller darker area. I poked in the little hole and saw two kittens there. (all the other kittens in the shelter had been spoken for but these two. No one took the time and energy to pay much attention to them.) I turned to the lady behind the cage and said “Take them out I want to see them” she attempted the first time but then looked at me and said “You know they’re really scared” I told her I didn’t care, I want to adopt an animal and I want to see these two.
I saw them and she asked if I wanted to go into the little room and play with them for a bit. “**** YEA!” My ex and myself went into the room and waited. A different lady came in bringing in the two. (I had originally wanted to call them tinkerbell and pancakes, but it was two different cats I saw on the SPCA website not these ones.) The lady turned to us and said “I wouldn’t by these two they are way too skiddish and scared for my liking.” The glare I gave her and my ex turned to her and said “all they need is a little love and care and they’ll be fine”. She left and we began playing with them and I said I WANT these two. We got them, and I named them Jinx and Scruffles. Jinx because she was clumsy and scruffles because she had spots all over where her colour didn’t come in and she looked scruffley.
Would I rescue another cat instead of going to a breeder? Any day as long as it’s a cat I want. Now I wouldn’t go to a shelter to get my first dog, I’d go to a respectable breeder. I would do my research on many breeder’s meet the few I want and get a puppy from them. Now after I have my first dog and get used to be around dogs, would I eventually go to a shelter and save one? Yes but not for my first time.
Do what you want, as you can see even a woman at the shelter had a comment to make about the choice of kittens I wanted…
This thread illustrates how passionately (and how differently) people have and share their opinions on pets and pet care.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiZTaCCen
Now I wouldn’t go to a shelter to get my first dog, I’d go to a respectable breeder.
Now personally, I would suggest the opposite to any new pet owner, whether a first time cat owner or time dog owners,
I'd recommend the person research the species, and the breed, and then start visiting animal shelters, rescuses, and breeders looking for an adult animal with a good temperment (and possibly even training).
Whether adopting from a shelter or a breeder, too many first time pet owners buy babies (because ooh, they're so darned cute) and then don't have the time, knowledge, experience or patience to train or socialize the babies properly. Then they have a poorly trained, poorly socialized animal that ends up in a shelter.
It's not at all true that "you don't know what you're getting" when you adopt from a shelter. Sure it's true if you choose the first cute face you see - but if you take your time, you can get the exact dog or cat or ferret or rat or whatever that you want. Visit several shelters. Visit often. Don't take an animal home until you'e spent time with it more than once, on more than one day. Choose an animal from a shelter that collects and makes available background information on the pets and owners... Maybe even volunteer at the shelter grooming the cats if you want a cat, or walking the dogs if you want a dog.
Unfortunately most people buy pets like they buy shoes. They buy the ones that were pretty in the store or in the catalog, and if they try them on it's only for a few minutes.
First time pet owners usually choose babies, and I understand it (baby animals are cute), but choosing an adult (a pre-trained adult if the owner has no experience training especially if they don't have time to learn).
Unless you want an incredibly exotic breed, you can find the exact breed with the exact temperment and training that you want if you're willing to look for a year or two - but most people choose a pet within only a few weeks of wanting one (and often only a few days or minutes).
This thread illustrates how passionately (and how differently) people have and share their opinions on pets and pet care.
Now personally, I would suggest the opposite to any new pet owner, whether a first time cat owner or time dog owners,
I'd recommend the person research the species, and the breed, and then start visiting animal shelters, rescuses, and breeders looking for an adult animal with a good temperment (and possibly even training).
Whether adopting from a shelter or a breeder, too many first time pet owners buy babies (because ooh, they're so darned cute) and then don't have the time, knowledge, experience or patience to train or socialize the babies properly. Then they have a poorly trained, poorly socialized animal that ends up in a shelter.
It's not at all true that "you don't know what you're getting" when you adopt from a shelter. Sure it's true if you choose the first cute face you see - but if you take your time, you can get the exact dog or cat or ferret or rat or whatever that you want. Visit several shelters. Visit often. Don't take an animal home until you'e spent time with it more than once, on more than one day. Choose an animal from a shelter that collects and makes available background information on the pets and owners... Maybe even volunteer at the shelter grooming the cats if you want a cat, or walking the dogs if you want a dog.
Unfortunately most people buy pets like they buy shoes. They buy the ones that were pretty in the store or in the catalog, and if they try them on it's only for a few minutes.
First time pet owners usually choose babies, and I understand it (baby animals are cute), but choosing an adult (a pre-trained adult if the owner has no experience training especially if they don't have time to learn).
Unless you want an incredibly exotic breed, you can find the exact breed with the exact temperment and training that you want if you're willing to look for a year or two - but most people choose a pet within only a few weeks of wanting one (and often only a few days or minutes).
Thank you for your advice, I'm definitely checking out shelters for a dog now. I saw a beautiful dog my friend had gotten who was a year old and it got me thinking for sure, on a sheltered animal.
Thank you for your advice, I'm definitely checking out shelters for a dog now. I saw a beautiful dog my friend had gotten who was a year old and it got me thinking for sure, on a sheltered animal.
It's surprising how many well-trained, and even purebred dogs end up in shelters and breed rescues. It's not only the feral, half-wild street mutts and "bad dogs" that end up in shelters.
I encouraged my sister to consider an adult dog, and she ended up taking my advice and adopted a 2 year old yorkie mix, she'd seen on petfinder. She met with the foster mother, and got to know the dog and the foster mother.
He's just the perfect little gentleman. My sister did have to "teach" him to play with toys, and she had to learn his signal to go out (he doesn't bark, he just quietlly gets up and sits by her sliding glass door until my sister realizes he has to go out).
I'm an animal person so I agree with your fiance's brother with getting a rescue cat. It's not just a material thing, it's a living breathing life you'd be saving. I've always had regular, non pure bred cats and they've all had their own personalities but have also been affectionate in their own ways. To be honest and I don't mean to ruffle your feathers and I know people will disagree, but I wish people would slow down with breeding pets when there are so many good pets getting euthanized everyday that never get a chance to have a loving home
