Is a Bengal cat right for you?

Are you aware of and up to the responsibilities of being a Bengal owner?
There are many aspects that potential cat owners need to consider before acquiring a Bengal cat or kitten.  Bengals have their own unique personalities and health care needs.  Bengals are becoming more and more popular among cat fanciers and for good reason.  Bengals offer the best characteristics of cats with a few dog traits thrown in.  

The Bengal is one of the most exotic breeds of cat that you will ever come across. The uniqueness of their breed lies within their blended bloodlines giving you an animal like no other. The Bengal cat is a cross between a domestic cat and an Asian leopard cat.

The blend of these two bloodlines created a mix that is hard to match in any other breed of cat.  Bengals were recognised by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1983 and finally received full championship status in 2005.

Bengals are a beautiful and muscular breed.  They make excellent pets and are thought by many to be Hypoallergenic.  Meaning that if you are allergic to cats you are less likely to be allergic to this particular species.

Because of the leopard like appearance many people associate them with Wild cats but they are generally very social and adapt well to home life, provided they are kept stimulated.  Every Bengal is an individual but in general Bengals make excellent house pets and get along well with other pets in the home.  They are best suited to homes with older children that will enjoy playing with them.  See also Bengal Cat Standards and Behavior.

Bengal Cat’s personality:
Bengal cats are very loving, loyal and a dedicated part of the family unit as they possess a good temperament with children. They are commonly very playful and enjoy interaction with people on a regular basis to show off their mischievous nature.

With an instinctive love of water they are often found drinking from taps or other water sources in the home, so keeping toilet lids down is advised. They love to interact and play with other cats and dogs and are generally very talkative!

How much exercise do Bengal Cat need:
Bengals are a very active, inquisitive and intelligent breed. They love jumping on people, worktops, and love heights! They like to get involved with the daily lives of the family and love sticking their nose or paw into anything going on in the house. Unrolling toilet rolls and learning to turn on faucets are common Bengal activities.

They also don’t like being left of their own for long – so if you work all day and do not have other pets or children for them to play with, it’s best to get two so they can keep each other entertained.

Potential Bengal Cat health problems:
Bengal cats are generally strong and hardy, however, they do have some known health problems, Reputable breeders screen for these issues so provided that you work with a good breeder they should not be an issue for you. See  Bengal Cat Health

Bengal Cat Traits:

Size:
The average size of Adult Bengals is about the same as most other cat breeds with adult males weighing slightly more than adult females.  In general an adult Bengal will weigh between 10 and 14 pounds.

Life Span:
When fed properly and kept up to date with vet checks and activity levels, you can expect your Bengal cat to live a long and happy life of 15 to 18 years or more. 

Shedding / Hypoallergenic:
Because they have a more dense Pelt versus a normal cats fur the bengal cat sheds very little in comparison to other cat breeds.  In addition Bengals are one of just a few cat breeds that are Hypoallergenic.  Meaning they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to cats.

Coat Colors and Patterns:
Bengals come in a variety of coat colors and patterns and you can find an excellent resource at this link on most of them.  In general the most popular color is the brown Rosetted.  Bengals come in shades of brown, silver, charcoal and a few colors in between with a few different patterns. Everyone has their own favorite look but in general the wild tiger look is what draws people to this breed.

Does the Bengal breed fit your lifestyle?

• Purebred Bengal cats tend to have personality traits that are inherent in the breed.
• Bengals are active, human loving cats.  Their way of bonding is through play.
• They want attention and are very energetic and need plenty of exercise.
• They are not lap cats and don’t sit quietly on the sofa arm all evening.  If you want a placid cat, a Bengal is not for you.  That isn’t to say a Bengal won’t sit in your lap; just don’t expect them to sit all night!
• If you plan to leave a single Bengal alone for long periods it’s going to make for a sad, problematic cat.

​We highly recommend that you consider buying Two kittens at the same time, if you do not have an active family or other young pets that can play with your new Bengal.  Please see this article on this subject.

When properly socialized Bengals will get along with other house pets and can be part of a multi pet household. The key is in the introductions to others as a kitten, this is one of the BIG reasons that it is important to find Bengal kitten breeders that spend the time with their kittens to socialize them.

Bengals and Children:
Just as in humans, every Bengal is different but in general Bengals are good with other members of the family and children.  This again goes back to how the breeder socialized the kittens.  If the breeder says the kittens are shy, it is a sure sign that they have not spent enough time interacting with them.  If possible visit the breeder and spend time with the kitten before you buy one.  Pick the one that seems to be the least shy and wants your company or wants to play.

Ease of training:
Unlike other cat breeds, Bengals are able and willing in most cases to be trained and are willing to accept commands from their owners. Bengals can be trained to walk on a leash which is VERY rare in the cat world. Prepare for a few strange looks... Because of the popularity of Bengal cats you should NEVER allow your Bengal to go outside without you.  It is likely to end up as someone else's pet.  Most Registered Bengal Breeders will have a microchip implanted in the kitten.  It is about the size of a grain of rice and can easily be scanned by vets during visits or by animal control if they were to find your cat so that it can be returned to the proper owner

Biting:
Bengals do not bite any more or less than any other cat breed and in general will only bite if they are in danger.  Playful nips during play are common and rarely do any harm.

Vocalization:
Bengals tend to speak more than many other cat breeds and will let you know if they need or want something.

Intelligence:
Bengal cats are one of the most intelligent of the cat breeds, Knowing this it is easy to understand why they are more vocal than most other breeds.  If they are vocalizing they are in many cases trying to communicate with you or let you know they are displeased about something

Affection:
Bengal cats love to cuddle and will show their owners affection. They will bond with their owners and show lots of love. BUT if you try to force a bengal to cuddle you are likely to get a hiss or even possibly a scratch. You can't force love... Every Bengal will be different in the amount of handling and cuddling that they want and need.

Kids:
Great!  Bengals love kids and enjoy their high levels of energy.  All of our Bengals have been socialized with some very energetic, grabby and loud children so they will be familiar with most behaviours that children do. Just remember that children need to be coached on how to approach a kitten and how to be gentle.

Dogs:
Great!  With all other pets make sure that they are gradually introduced and have an opportunity to get familiar with each other’s scents before they physically meet.  Bengals can actually bond with dogs and become great friends.

Water play: 
Some Bengals especially love to get in the shower or play in the tub. A fountain with running water such as commercially available cat drinking fountains can provide a lot of fun for your Bengal . Sometimes they may take a toy and drop it in the water as if to see if it is playing dead. Or they may take a paw and dig beside the fountain as though they are digging up water…
It's all lots of fun to watch!  You wouldn’t believe that a cat could like water so much.  Most Bengals love to splash and play with water.  Running water from a sink or a fountain is a blast to play with.  Watch your toilet (especially if you use cleaning agents like bleach) and running hot water.  It’s rare, but some Bengals have also been known to swim or to shower with their owners!

Summary:
When purchased from the right breeder and properly socialized as kittens, Bengals make excellent pets and companions.  The key is finding the right breeder.  Shop carefully and use the checklist provided at this link as a guide in making your decision. (Breeder Checklist).

For more Bengal related content and information or to find your purrfect Bengal kitten or Bengal Related Products, visit us at RegisteredBengals.com

Have you got a Bengal Cat? Have you got advice for anyone considering getting one?
Let us know in the comments below…

"If it's not a Bengal, It's just a cat"
If you have one, You know it's true...

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