I also disagree with reviews being a bad thing. I should have taken the reviews on Suri's breeder to heart, rather than just chalking the negative reports up to a few buyers who were unlucky. There are even reviews/ testimonies from buyers on very well known and respected breeder webpages, facebook accounts, etc.
When it comes to 1st hand recommendations, ok thats great. What do you do if you dont personally know a person with a bengal? I dont. Id never even SEEN a bengal (outside of online picts) until I picked up Suri.
I also disagree with some of the points as to what makes a breeder "good" or "bad". Just because a breeder shows their cats doesnt make them a good breeder. Suri's breeder has won many many many MANY awards for his beautiful cats, yet he sells sick kittens. Same with seeing the facilities, the parents, the breeder asking the buyer questions, and informing the buyer as to the feed they use, litter, etc. I was even given several cans of the food Suri was already eating. I went through all that.....and still got a sick kitten.
Advertising doesnt make a breeder bad either. Word has to get out somehow... what if a 'new' breeder with top notch, well cared for cats and kittens has arrived on scene? They have to let people know they have available kittens somehow, right? Theres nothing wrong with advertising. I personally would advertise if I ever had kittens. Why? Because no one knows who I am. I could have the best kittens in the world, but if no one knew, it wouldnt matter.
What I would do different as a buyer NOW is this: I would find a family with a single breeding pair (or possibly only 2 queens) who occassionally has kittens. Im talking once, MAYBE twice a year litters, where the kittens are hand raised indoors, well socialized and well cared for. Id still want to meet the parents, see where and how the kittens were raised, see paperwork regarding vet care or health screenings, etc. I would want to feel 100% at ease with my decision, and not deep down be second guessing myself. A bengal is an expensive purchase. A buyer should feel confidence in their breeder, given how much money they are about to spend. Id steer clear of breeders who mass produce kittens....even if those kittens are beautiful and out of champion show stock.
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