FAQ's
Are your kittens raised underfoot?
Absolutely! They are born in our bedroom and sleep with us as soon as they're old enough. When they've had their vaccinations, they roam the house as they please.What is glitter?Glitter is a wonderful feature of the fur on some Bengals. The glitter is thought to be caused by voids in the hair shafts which reflect light like little metal flakes. The effect is a lot like a shimmery metallic fabric. Click here a picture of glittered fur.
What are the various Bengal colors called?
Bengals colors are Brown Spotted (or marbled) Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted (or marbled) Tabby, Seal Sepia Spotted (or marbled), and Lynx Point Spotted (or marbled) Tabbies.
To be added this year (May 2004) are Silver spotted or marbled tabbies. This also adds the Silver Snows (Seal Mink, Seal Sepia and Lynx point).
Do Bengals shed?
Bengals barely shed at all. They have a short, dense coat that lies close to their bodies which they can groom very easily. Stroke a Bengal firmly down the back, and very few hairs will come loose.
I've heard that Bengals are ok for people with cat allergies, is that true?We have a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests that glittered Bengals are hypo-allergenic for people with cat allergies. I'm somewhat allergic to our non-Bengal cats, especially their saliva, but Bengals don't seem to affect me whether glittered or not. Since people are different, if you have known cat allergies you should carefully test to make sure you're ok.
How are Bengals' personalities?
In our experience, Bengal cats' personalities are as varied as human personalities. Something that they have in common is that they have BIG personalities! Meaning that the depth of their personalities is so much more than other cats that we've experienced, and that's what makes them so special. Much of their personality comes from their upbringing and interaction with humans, some comes from their experiences with their mothers and littermates, and the rest is genetic. At Prattmandu, our philosophy is to breed for kittens with the best personality. This influences all of our decisions!
How old does a kitten have to be before it can come home with me?
We insist that our kittens be 12 weeks old before leaving us. This gives us time to get all of their vaccinations including the rabies vaccine. We also think that letting them stay with their mother for 12 weeks is the best for their personality development and socialization.
Will I ever be able to keep a soda straw in my glass after getting a Bengal cat?
No! Soda straws are for playing, not for drinking!
Are they very vocal?Yep! Bengals are like Mockingbirds and will invent new "cat words" all the time to get your attention. Rubah's favorite yell is "helghlghlgh-oooooghghghghgh!" (pronounced "hello" with a little gargle in the middle and at the end) It gets our attention when he's trapped outside our bedroom door at night! Bengals can be loud as a crow, yet they can be quiet as a whisper. It depends on their mood, and what they're saying. Their little kitten "meow" when they know they've been bad will melt your heart!
Will they tear up my furniture?
Bengals are very trainable, and are the best cats in our house for leaving the furniture unharmed once they've been scolded. Our non-Bengal cats constantly claw at the furniture, though. If you get a nice, sisal-wrapped, or carpeted scratching post that's tall enough for them to stretch out against, you won't have any problems anyway. We also recommend the "Turbo Scratcher" available at Petco. It uses replaceable cardboard disk for the scratching medium and a trapped ball and catnip to attract them to it.
Can you ship to other locations?
Yes we can! We use Continental QuickPak for our preferred carrier. Contact us for more information.
Can you deliver a kitten?
Yes, we often deliver kittens in the Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Beaumont, Corpus Christi areas due to our travels for TICA cat shows and to visit relatives. Check with us for details.
What is the difference between pet and show quality?
That is completely dependent on how well the kitten meets the Bengal Standard and our opinion of how well the kitten would fare against kittens and cats which are currently competing in our area. We will still sell show quality kittens as pets, but they cost a little more.
So, I've heard about Marbled Bengals, what does that mean?
The marbled Bengal has a recessive trait which replaces the tabby spotting with random swirls of darker colors against the background coat color. The effect is intended to look like a clouded leopard, but is related to the classic tabby pattern. The genetics of the Asian Leopard Cat creates a more horizontal flow to the swirls. Check out pictures of Marbleous to get an idea of what this looks like. Most people who see marbled Bengals are awestruck by the beauty of their patterns.
What's so special about Bengals anyway?
They're amazing! Bengals are to cats as Superman is to Clark Kent! They're incredibly intelligent. They have a depth of personality and innate urge for human-cat relationships unlike any cats we've ever owned. They will outplay, outsmart, outrun, out-jump, out-anything any other cat... They will charm you off your feet, yet convince you that they're straight out of the jungles of Asia. They individually exhibit traits of their wild ancestors - some swim, some drink from their cupped paw, cover the food when they're finished eating, or clear the invisible scum off the water before drinking, some even "yeowl" when eating or drinking something tasty. They all play like they are counting on eating the toy as the meal to get them through the night! Their antics at play will amaze you and then amaze your friends and family. A Bengal will generally win a tug-o-war with you and a feathered toy -- growling all the time! Then, he might just bring it back to you and drop it at your feet in hopes of another round. You will always be proud of your relationship with a Bengal cat - they will thrill you beyond words to just sit at your side in front of the TV or sleep against you at night. Most people who pet a Bengal for the first time immediately get a shocked expression and call for their friends or family to touch them -- most Bengals have the softest, silkiest fur of any short-haired cat. When strangers meet Rubah or Akashi, our cats who get out the most, they're greeted by lots of kisses on the face or fingers. Rubah stands on his back feet to get petted on the head by perfect strangers when out on a leash. The combination of his powerful, muscular body and sweet disposition amazes them. They're always a show-stopper! To know a Bengal is to love them! They will be the most amazing animal you've ever had in your home.
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