Bengals are stunning cats that could be the perfect fit for your home. If you're looking for one of these cats but would rather adopt than buy, there are plenty of Bengal cat rescues across the country. These organizations help rehome Bengals who have been given up or removed from unhealthy situations. If you want to find an adoptable Bengal cat, these rescues might be able to help you find a feline companion for life.
Bengal Rescue
Bengal Rescue is the largest and most well-known place to search for Bengal cats up for adoption. The organization has a national focus, and helps individuals place their cats when they can no longer care for them, but they also rescue Bengal cats from shelters to find them forever homes. As their website boasts, they hope to "find you the cat of your dreams!"
Texas Bengal and Exotic Cat Rescue
Texas Bengal and Exotic Cat Rescue is a no-kill rescue organization that helps find homes for Bengals and other exotic felines, such as Savannahs and Chausies. But since these are rescue cats, they can't confirm whether a cat is truly a purebred Bengal. This isn't really a big deal, though, because Bengal mixes are just as beautiful and often have a lot of the same personality quirks.
Don't be discouraged if you fall in love with one of their cats but don't live in Texas; even though the rescue is based in Dallas, they do adopt cats out to people across the continental United States, so long as you can travel to and from the foster home with your new fur child.
Great Lakes Bengal Rescue
Looking for an adoptable Bengal in the Midwest? Then you'll definitely want to check out Great Lakes Bengal Rescue. This nonprofit organization aims to find permanent homes for Bengals (and Bengal mixes!) across the Midwest United States. Follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on their available cats, or visit their website to see all their listings as well as fostering or surrender information.
Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue
Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue helps find homes for all types of purebred cats, including Bengals. They were founded in 1999 and serve the greater Midwest area, so they've helped save the lives of numerous surrendered cats. All their adoptable cats are spayed or neutered, tested for infectious diseases, and many even have full dental cleanings before they go to their forever home. Check out their listings to see if they have any Bengals or other cats that fit your needs.
PNW Bengal Rescue
Bengal lovers in the Pacific Northwest area might just find their new best friend through PNW Bengal Rescue. It's a Facebook group that assists individual Bengal owners in finding new homes for their cats.
Bengals are one of the most expensive breeds, which is why purebred cats from a breeder can cost upwards of $3,000. Rescuing a Bengal will allow you to give a loving pet a second chance at life while saving some money, too.
Be Cautious When Adopting Bengals on Social Media
It's becoming more common for rescues and individual owners to advertise adoptable Bengals on social media. Even though a lot of these listings are legitimate, there are several scams you'll want to be careful about. There are people out there who try to impersonate Bengal rescues or try to adopt out stolen cats. Use these tips when looking for Bengals through social media.
- Look for credentials. Most rescues have 501c accreditation, which means they're nonprofit. You can usually find this information on the organization's website or simply ask them. Even though 501c status isn't a requirement for pet rescues (and if you adopt from an individual owner, they probably won't have this credential), having it is a good indication that they're a legit rescue.
- Consider the adoption fee. Cat adoption fees usually range from $50 to $200, although purebred exotic cats like Bengals could go for more than that ($300 to $400 in some cases). But if they're asking an adoption fee of something like $1,500, that's a red flag.
- Ask about health records. All adoptable cats should come with a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian. If the cat hasn't been examined or isn't spayed or neutered, that's also a red flag.
- Find out about the cat's background. Ask how the Bengal came to be at the rescue or why the individual needs to rehome it. Sometimes, cats have been moved from shelter to shelter before they find their way to a designated Bengal rescue. In those cases, the staff might not know the cat's story, but they should be familiar with where they came from.
Do You Research Before Rescuing a Bengal
If you've ever met a Bengal, you know they're not like other cats. These wild creatures have special needs that not everyone can accommodate. Unfortunately, this is why a lot of Bengals are surrendered or rehomed. Read up on Bengal care and their unique quirks before you start searching for adoptable cats to make sure this is the right pet for you. That way, you can confidently give one of these charming felines a place to call their forever home.
