What are other breeder’s thoughts on selling kittens on the active register to novice breeders?

For me personally, the novice would have had to have carried out a great deal of research, show 100% commitment, be very aware of health issues in the breed, and to be passionate about the breed, and that is just for starters.

If we are completely happy with the new breeder, and agree to home a queen/stud to them, we would also want to make sure that they had the best possible quality Bengal for their program. Start as you mean to go on…Progressing the breed surely?

We would of course stay completely supportive and responsible 24/7, and mentor the novice breeder for as long as it takes.

We have been very happy with Charmain/Sarah and Helen our two ‘novices’ over the past few years. Both of these breeders have shown that they have the passion and the willingness to learn about the breed constantly, and they both deserved to have 'pick kittens' from our litters to help to progress their programs. These breeders are a true asset to the Bengal breed, although sadly they seem to be a rare person, as money seems to be a great motivation for many starting out breeding Bengals.

Reasons for not homing to novice breeders? For me, too many cats with too little space. Lack of research/knowledge. The breeder thinking they can ‘make money’ from breeding.... to name but a few!
Hence, we very rarely home breeding cats to new breeders (or established breeders for that matter). If we wouldn’t be 100% happy to keep the kitten for our own program, then the baby wouldn’t go on the active register at all, irrespective of whether the breeder is a novice or established.

Others thoughts?

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Best Wishes,
Maddy

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with best wishes

Tim and the Family Feline

Tigra, Azlan, Bilbo and Zion

Hi, I have had The Posse now for 2 years plus and I care VERY passionately about the breed. I have always had the utmost support from their breeder at any time I have ever been concerned. I totally agree that you need to learn as much as possible, ask as much as possible about health and lines. It has taken me some time to decide that I would like to breed, a decsion I have not taken lightly as I am aware of the time and dedication involved and very much respect breeders'opinions. I am lucky that I do have room to accomodate and isolate litters and queens away from the posse as I think I've mentioned to you before Maddie. I haven't said much about my wanting to breed on the forum beacause I am very nervous about it and with the greatest respect, sometimes I don't feel that my beginning to breed would be welcomed. On the other hand, I know if I asked for help on this forum I would have it immediately which is wonderful. Please give us a chance xx

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Diane & The Posse

Hi Diane,

We would always give any novice breeder a chance that had researched the breed (and breeding itself) thoroughly, and they were going into breeding for the right reasons of course. We already have!

I sometimes though feel frustrated at some email enquiries from new breeders. Most haven’t done any research at all, and yet they have already homed queens, and sometimes a stud cat too, from established breeders who haven’t offered any mentoring.

For a new breeder to end up having 6 queens in their first year of breeding for example, just isn’t right, and with such a lack of knowledge and experience too is irresponsible on the part of the breeder/s for homing these cats in the first place.

I also find it frustrating that some decent novice breeders are being offered inferior quality Bengal queens and studs for their programs, when they should be being offered the same quality cats as an established breeder would surely? Progressing the breed isn’t just about your own program, but contributing to other breeders’ programs too, especially new breeders. The Bengal breed needs new breeders not only with passion, knowledge, commitment etc…but also with decent cats that will carry the breed forward in a healthy and positive direction.

Unfortunately there will always be established breeders, and newer breeders, who will home a cat as a queen just because she is a female, and she can have kittens, and breeders who will sell active cats of any quality to just about anyone to make those few extra £££’s.

It just saddens me to see so many pet quality Bengals in breeding programs, and I do feel very disheartened sometimes with breeding, and I wonder where the Bengal breed will be in 10 years time.

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Best Wishes,
Maddy

Hi Maddie, I promise I have done a lot of research, I am probably over paranoid if you can be, about cleanliness and health and really have not undertaken this lightly. I have only one queen and have no intention of adding any more until I learn even more from her first litter. For me, I want to raise well socialised kittens who will be a delight for their new owners as much as my bengalis are a delight to me. Health is paramount to me and before she goes to stud, she and all the posse will be vet checked.

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Diane & The Posse

I'm not a breeder and have no intentions of ever being one so I hope you don't mind me chipping in on this thread. Before you set out on any new venture, you have to do lots of research and where there's life involved, that's even more essential. Obviously you also learn by experience which sometimes you can only get once you've started but some people seem to set out breeding without doing even the most basic research. I am amazed by some of the questions I've seen on cat forums from new breeders - real basic things that I'd expect any breeder (or to be honest any pet owner) to know, however inexperienced they are.

I honestly think there should be some sort of licensing system that would prevent anyone from selling animals without meeting basic standards. It's probably totally impractical but surely worth considering.

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I agree with you Ginny. For me the quality of the life of my cats is the most important thing and creating new life without relevant back up is something I would never entertain in any way shape of form.

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Diane & The Posse

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Diane & The Posse

Just read this thread , and thought i would add my tuppence worth.

In the 5 years that I have been breeding, I can honestly say,that I would only ever sell cats as breeders if they met the bengal breed standard.
This varies from breeder to breeder. I can count on one hand the amount of breeders I have sold.
Personally my aim is to breed good strong, healthy babies that have good type. Pattern & rosetting comes second. I have been scouring the world for a new Silver boy and quite frankly I haven't yet found one that i'm happy with. Alot of breeders seem to be concentrating on pattern but not on type. I have seen some truely beautiful cats, but the type seems to have been lost.
I have seen breeders advertising kittens as potential show/breeders that don't meet breed standards. For instance, Big ears, dipped noses,lockets, wrong shaped eyes,rib bars and quite frankly bloody wierd random markings, IE - what I can only describe as ginger splodges along the back line???

Anyone that is thining of goig into breeding Bengals MUST do their homework. Unfortunatley there are alot of unscrupulous so called breeders that will sell anything on as a breeder.
The only thing that reputable breeders can do is try their best to make sure that their babies are going to the right homes and that mentoring is available to ANYONE that needs it.

I do think that the extreme 'typey' Bengals are lacking in coat contrast, and clarity, and with most having quite ticked coats. These huge whisker pads and chins look more like Tigers than a 'small forest dwelling wild cat' to me.


I agree that the clear defined rosetted patterns set the Bengal breed apart from other breeds.

I think the problem with the Bengal breed is that from the early days, breeders have rushed into producing the 'wow' coats/patterns without concentrating on, and working with, one trait first.

We seem to have breeders desperate for type, pattern/coat, white tummies; the whole 'package' far too quickly.

There is so much 'work' still to be done in progressing this breed, that sometimes I feel that breeders are too impatient to strive for everything, and unfortuntely it seems to be compromising the health of the breed too.

JMO

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Best Wishes,
Maddy