Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s
Over the years we’ve heard many questions from our clients and potential adopters, about Bengals and Bengal rescue, overall. We hope this Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s page will help you understand more about us and the Bengal cats we love.
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Q: Wow, there seem to be a lot of Bengals in need of rescue. Is there something wrong with them?
A: No. Bengal cats are fantastic companions, there is nothing wrong with them. Unfortunately, they often land in rescue due to a number of factors, the most common is lack of human oversight with regards to proper litter box maintenance, diet, regular Veterinary care, mental and physical stimulation, as well as improper environment. See our pages Litter Box Issues and Adopting Your First?, in addition to our FAQ’s page.
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Q: Why are Bengals surrendered? Aren’t they expensive cats?
A: Bengals are surrendered for a multitude of reasons. Just because someone pays a lot for a cat initially, does not mean that they don’t later change their mind about keeping the cat, due to a number of factors. Here are some of the reasons:
- Divorce
- Losing a home
- Not getting along with other pets
- Allergies
- New baby
- New puppy
- Improper litter box management
- Job change that requires excessive travel
- Cat is too active for the owner
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Q: My friend has a Bengal and I met him / her – they are so “dog-like” – can I expect that from every Bengal?
A: That question makes us laugh! Usually the people who refer to Bengals as “dog-like” have never had a cat, and when they meet a Bengal they like the cat – and suddenly that makes the cat “dog-like.” All cats need a little time to warm up when they meet someone new. Some Bengals are shy, some are outgoing, and some are somewhat in the middle.
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Q: I want a Bengal because they all love to walk on a harness and play in water. Your rescue Bengals are all like that, right?
A: No. We have Bengals who love walking on a harness, we have Bengals who are absolutely reluctant to do that. We have Bengals who love water, and others who are afraid of it. The only “universal” here is that with patience, you can train your cat on a harness but it takes time – not all Bengals respond to it. As for water – it’s a good bet that your Bengal will only want to drink out of a water fountain.
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Q: I heard that Bengal cats are hypo-allergenic – is that right? My son/ daughter is allergic to cats, and that’s why we want a Bengal.
A: Unfortunately that is not true. While it is true that most people report that Bengals are lower dander than other cats, there are still people who are allergic to Bengal cats. If you are concerned about allergic reactions, it would be good for you to bring your family members for a meet / greet with the Bengal you’re interested in. Spend a few hours with the cat and see how your family does. If everyone is comfortable, then you can proceed with adoption. Note though – every cat is different. There are some Bengals who seem virtually “hypo-allergenic” and others who have a bigger impact on allergies.
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Q: I understand that Bengal Cats love to be outdoors. I have a huge backyard and live on a quiet street. Can I adopt a Bengal as an Indoor/Outdoor cat?
A: In rescue, it’s our mission to keep our cats safe. For this reason, we do not re-home Bengals into Indoor / Outdoor homes. We do support leash training. We’re happy to have you leash train your Bengal, however your Bengal should never be left unattended or given free access to outdoors. They simply don’t have the defense mechanisms to protect themselves from cars, dogs, wildlife, and humans who would wish to steal them or cause them harm. With proper indoor catification, your cat can live a long, safe, and healthy life – indoors.
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Q: I saw quite a few Bengal cat profiles, stating that they have litter box issues. Is that true?
A: All cats have litter box issues if their humans do not practice proper litter box management. Sadly, it is usually the human who is at fault and not the cat. We had one client who wanted to surrender his two cats for inappropriate urination. We asked him “How often do you scoop the litter box?” He had to think for a bit (never a good sign…). Then he finally said “Once a week.” We asked “Do you also flush your toilet only once a week?” The look on his face was priceless. He suddenly understood. In the end, cats don’t WANT to urinate outside of the litter box. They usually only do it when they are forced to do so, due to their human’s lack of litter box maintenance, or if there are medical issues. Please see our page on Litter Box Issues for more information.
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Q: What can you tell me about the background of the cat, that I’m interested in? Does he come with papers?
A: Rarely do our Rescue Bengals come with papers (see TICA or CFA websites for more information). It is often the case that the cat is being surrendered during a trying time for the family, and paperwork is often the last thing on their minds. Sometimes they eventually locate paperwork and when they do, we make sure to get that information to the new owners. We are seasoned Bengal Rescuers, and we definitely can tell the difference between a Bengal and a Bengal-mix. In general, we do not list any cats who are not obviously purebred cats.
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Q: Where do the Bengals in your program come from?
A: The Bengals in our program come from many places. Foremost, we assist owners in re-homing their family pet, due to unforeseen circumstances. In these cases, we are often able to provide medical history from their family Veterinarian. We also rescue Bengals from City and County Shelters, and also private rescues who are less experienced with placing Bengals in forever homes.
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Q: I don’t see any Bengals in my area, on your website. Where else should I look?
A: We feature available Bengals on a number of Facebook pages and other Pet Portals. Hop on over to our Where to Adopt page to start your search.
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Q: I really want a Bengal kitten. Do you ever get kittens in Rescue?
A: No. We do not.
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Q: How much are your adoption fees?
A: Our adoption fees often are based on medical cost / expenses (exam, vaccinations, etc.); our fees vary with each cat.
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Q: I live out of State. Do you ship cats?
A: No we do not ship cats, however we are open to out-of-State placement. But we are partners with Southwest Airlines (SWATT) and Delta Airlines (DART). Adopters are responsible for any / all transportation costs.
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Q: If the Adoption does not work out, do I get a refund?
A: Unfortunately, no. Because our fees are so low, they do not ever cover the basic medical care and assessment that we provide to the cats in our program.
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Q: Is my Adoption fee tax-deductible?
A: It should be, yes (some individuals are unable to deduct this; check with your tax professional). We are a registered 501(C)(3) corporation. Our Tax-ID is 85-0920758
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Q: I need to re-home my Bengal. How do I go about this?
A: See our page Rehome and fill out the submission form.
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Q: I’m interested in Fostering or assisting with Transportation. How can I learn more?
A: See our page Foster and fill out the Foster Application form.
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