If you are considering buying a Bengal cat, you may have learned that they are among the most highly-priced breeds, alongside the Ashera, Savanna, and Khao Manee.
The information might have left you wondering whether you can afford on. You may also have been wondering about after-purchase costs, such as feeding, medical care, vaccination, and pet insurance.
If you’ve been searching online for information about the financial commitments involved in parenting a Bengal cat, you’ve come to the right place.
Here is everything you need to know.
2023 Bengal cat prices in USA
The cost of purchasing a Bengal cat depends on the source. You may obtain one by adopting or purchasing from breeders:
Buying from breeders
The cost of purchasing a Bengal from USA breeders in 2023 typically varies between $1,500 and $3,000, however they can be priced as low as $800 or higher than $3,000.
Purebred kittens with established lineage or rare bloodlines cost more, often between $4,000 to $10,000. Remember that kittens descended from parents who won championship shows may also cost more.
Some coat colors or patterns also fetch the seller a premium. For instance, silver coat colors attract a premium due to the rarity and attractiveness of the pattern resembling a snow leopard. Silver Bengal kittens may cost $8,000 or more, depending on other factors.
The price can also depend on the location, and varies among breeders. Kittens tend to cost more when purchased from established certified breeders.
It is advisable to purchase your purebred from reputable and well-established breeders. But cost considerations could play a role in your choice.
However, you need to be wary when buying from amateur breeders and kitten mill operators.
Buying from a certified breeder is best for those who can afford it or want a guarantee that they have a purebred Bengal. It also means you have reassuring information about your cat’s bloodline, including potential health issues and personality.
Adopting a Bengal cat
If you find the cost of purchasing a Bengal cat from a breeder prohibitive, you may look around for one to adopt from a local animal shelter or rescue home.
Online marketplaces such as Facebook and pet adoption boards are also potential sources.
While purebreds are rarer at rescue homes because they are less likely to become homeless, you may find one by conducting a patient and careful search.
Adoption is, of course, a cheaper way of obtaining an otherwise pricey purebred cat.
It may cost between $75 to $100 to adopt a Bengal cat. But the downside is that you are unlikely to get a guarantee that the cat you are adopting is purebred.
However, adoption is probably the best option if you don’t consider the purebred status of your pet a top priority.
Care costs
After purchasing a Bengal cat, you will incur further costs caring for it. The costs include feeding, vaccination, medical care, and insurance.
Feeding costs may be between $10-40 a month, but higher-quality cat food may cost up to $80 per month.
The initial costs of purchasing personal effects for your cat vary depending on whether you buy utility or high-end products. Your cat’s personal effects include litter, bedding, food and water containers, toys, scratching posts, and grooming tools.
You are unlikely to spend significantly more than between $100-$300.
Health-wise, a routine checkup may cost up to $100, depending on the clinic. Vaccinations may also cost up to $100, spaying and neutering between $100-$500, and emergencies between $500-$5,000.
Pet insurance usually costs between $20 to $50 per month.
The Bengal cat
Breed historians widely credit the California breeder Jean Mill for her pioneer work developing the Bengal cat breed, which reportedly originated from mating certain domestic cat breeds (Felis catus) with a wild species known as the Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).
The resulting crossbreds were either bred with more tractable domesticated cats to make them more docile and friendly or carefully selected for the same traits.
The Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a wild species widely distributed in South and East Asia.
The derivation of the Bengal cat from the wild species explains the breed’s wild cat looks and its reputation as a cat with a high activity level.
State laws
Remember that keeping Bengal cats is illegal in some states, including New York and Hawaii.