Introduction
Bengal cats are a relatively new breed that was developed in the 1980s. They were created by crossing small Asian Leopard Cats with domestic cats like Abyssinians, Egyptian Maus, and Ocicats. The goal was to breed a cat with the exotic look of a wild cat but the temperament of a domestic cat.
Bengals quickly became popular for their striking “leopard-like” coats with vivid spots and distinctive marbling. They are active, energetic cats that enjoy playing and demand a lot of interaction. Their affectionate personality makes them a favorite as family pets.
Today, Bengal cats rank as one of the most popular pedigreed breeds. Their unique appearance and playful nature continue to drive demand, making them a potentially lucrative breed for cat breeders.
Costs of Breeding Bengals
Bengals are bred to preserve wild traits in their look and behavior, so breeders must be selective when choosing cats for breeding. High-quality breeding Bengals have an average purchase price between $2,000 and $5,000 according to The Bengal Connection. Show-quality breeding cats with champion bloodlines can cost $10,000 or more. In addition to the initial purchase price, costs for proper breeding facilities, housing, food, and veterinary care can quickly add up.
Proper housing is critical for Bengal cat breeding. Breeders need enough space to separate males and females when not actively breeding. Breeding cats also require time outside of cages for exercise and enrichment. Feeding a nutritious high-protein diet is essential for breeding cats before, during and after pregnancy. Vet bills for checkups, vaccinations, testing and delivery assistance can range from $200 to over $1000 per breeding cycle according to Spot Pet Insurance. Overall, a Bengal cat breeding operation requires a significant upfront investment and ongoing operating costs.
Time Commitment
Breeding Bengal cats requires an extensive daily time commitment to properly care for and socialize the cats and kittens. Adult breeding cats need at least 1-2 hours per day of human interaction and play time to keep them happy and prevent behavior problems. Once a litter is born, breeders spend 2-4 hours per day socializing the kittens, and mother cats with litters require additional feedings and care. Kittens need to be handled frequently from birth to 12 weeks for proper socialization. Daily litterbox cleaning, feeding, grooming, and sanitizing breeding areas is also necessary. Breeding requires a major time investment every day to attend to the specialized needs of breeding cats and properly raise happy, well-adjusted kittens.
Income Potential
The main source of income for breeding Bengal cats comes from selling the kittens. According to The Bengal Connection, the current average price for a Bengal kitten from a reputable breeder is $1,500 – $3,000. The specific price depends on factors like the kitten’s generation (early generation Bengals often cost more), appearance, pedigree, and breeder reputation.
On average, a healthy Bengal queen can have 1-4 kittens per litter and produce 1-2 litters per year. With an average litter size of 3 kittens and selling each for an average of $2,000, a breeder could potentially make $6,000 per litter, or $12,000 annually if the queen has two litters per year. However, costs, unexpected events, and finding buyers would lower actual profits.
Challenges
Breeding Bengal cats can pose several challenges. One major issue is difficult births and high infant mortality rates. According to mysilverbengal.com [1], around 20% of Bengal kittens are stillborn or die within the first week. Bengals have larger heads and higher birth weights which can complicate the birthing process. Breeders need to closely monitor pregnancies and be prepared for any birthing emergencies.
Another challenge is finding responsible buyers for the kittens. With Bengals selling for $1,000-$3,000 per kitten, some disreputable breeders try to cash in and overbreed them. Reputable breeders screen potential buyers to ensure the kittens are going to good homes. They often require contracts stipulating the cats be spayed/neutered and cannot be resold or used for breeding. Finding the right buyers requires networking within the Bengal cat community.
Facilities Needed
Breeding Bengal cats requires significant facilities and space. Bengal cats are active and energetic, so they require large enclosures and plenty of room to exercise and play. The Bengal Breeders Association recommends a minimum of 100 square feet of indoor space per adult cat, along with additional outdoor runs. Cats should be housed individually or in compatible pairs, with separate enclosures for intact males.
Proper housing is essential and enclosures should have scratching posts, shelves, hiding places, and access to clean litter boxes. Floors should be easy to clean and disinfect. Each enclosure requires appropriate lighting, heating, and ventilation. Supplies like food dishes, litter boxes, beds, toys, scratching posts, and cleaning supplies will be needed.
A separate area for birthing and raising kittens is optimal. The birthing area should be quiet, warm, and contain all necessary supplies for assisting with the birth and caring for kittens. Kittens remain with their mother until 12-16 weeks old and require their own housing after weaning.
Outdoor runs allow cats secure outside time. Outdoor housing must prevent access by predators, bad weather, and unauthorized people. Proper licensing and facilities are mandatory to legally and ethically breed Bengal cats.
Licensing and Regulations
Breeding Bengal cats for profit requires obtaining the proper permits and licenses. According to the USDA, a Class A breeder’s license is required for anyone selling cats bred and raised at their facility [1]. The license application involves an inspection of the breeder’s premises and facilities. There are also state and local regulations that may apply. For example, in Connecticut, pet breeders must obtain a license from the state Department of Agriculture [2]. Many states have statutes regulating pet breeding licenses and facility standards, including mandating local licensing [3]. Breeders should research all applicable federal, state, and local licensing requirements before starting a Bengal cat breeding business.
Profit Potential
While Bengal cat breeding can be lucrative, the actual profit margins are often lower than expected once all expenses are accounted for. According to Elysian Bengals, a reputable Bengal cat breeder in Texas, their gross income from breeding in 2018-2019 was around $51,000. However, after subtracting expenses like housing, food, vet bills, supplies, and marketing, their actual profit was only about $8,000 for that time period.
These tight profit margins are echoed by other Bengal breeders as well. As noted by the Bengal cat breeder community on TheCatSite.com, large profits from cat breeding often indicate corners being cut on animal welfare and health. Reputable breeders aim for quality over quantity, which keeps profits modest. This means that while Bengal cat breeding can generate decent side income, it may not support full-time breeding as a main source of income.
New breeders should be aware of these financial realities going in and have reasonable expectations. With good business practices and gradual growth over time, Bengal breeding may become more profitable. But overall, breeding quality Bengal cats ethically appears to generate modest returns once all costs are factored in.
Alternatives to Consider
While breeding Bengal cats can be profitable, there are some alternatives worth considering before jumping into Bengal cat breeding as a business:
Other Cat Breeds
Some other potentially profitable cat breeds to consider breeding include the Savannah, Persian, Maine Coon, and British Shorthair. While Bengals typically sell for $1,000 to $25,000, other pedigreed cats can sell for comparable prices depending on rarity and demand.
Other Pets
Instead of breeding cats, some other potentially profitable pets to breed include certain dog breeds like French Bulldogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Pugs which can sell for thousands of dollars. Small pets like sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and parrots can also be lucrative. The start-up costs and care requirements would differ greatly from cats though.
Other Businesses
Rather than breeding animals, other small business ideas like opening an Etsy shop, becoming a virtual assistant, or starting a daycare may be less intensive and require less upfront investment. The profit potential varies greatly, but lower risk options are worth considering before jumping into cat breeding.
Conclusion
In summary, breeding Bengal cats can be a profitable endeavor, but it requires substantial upfront investments, ongoing costs, time commitments, and challenges. The income potential can be significant if you breed high-quality cats with pedigree lines, market them well, and find buyers willing to pay premium prices. However, profitability ultimately depends on your ability to manage all the expenses and required facilities while producing litters consistently. Careful planning and preparation is needed to determine if the costs and efforts will result in your desired profits. Other alternatives like breeding more common cat breeds may involve lower startup and ongoing costs. Overall, breeding Bengals can be lucrative for breeders with the right skills, resources, and business acumen but consider the full range of requirements first.