Bengal Care and Character
A Bengal combines the exotic look and feel of the small wild cats they descend from with the dependability and loving temperament of the domestic cat. Like all cats, Bengals have individual personalities, but there are qualities that seem to be universally ascribed to our beautiful Bengal breed; they are very intelligent, playful, lively, incredibly curious and affectionate. Bengals have a lot of personality and are just plain fun! Their antics will make you laugh.
The Bengal is confident, mischievous, likes to run, climb, loves heights and loves interacting with other pets and people. They are social cats that genuinely seem to want and need their people as much as their people treasure them. Bengals wouldn't be happy without companionship, both human and animal, but they are not needy or clingy. They are loyal pets who are actively involved in the family.
When we say that bengals are active and social we should make equal note that they will spend a pretty good part of the day sacked out in a favorite spot just napping! Given a spot on the bed they'll routinely sleep all night with their owners; although their owners may find themselves waking up to kisses and good morning head butting!
Bengals love to be a part of everything. Whenever a box is delivered or I bring in the groceries I can count on the kitties to come and see what we have, climb in the sacks and check out the contents to satisfy their considerable curiosity. If I’m working on the computer and it is a quiet time my cats can be found napping nearby. If they are in a playful or affectionate mood they will be on the desk walking across the keyboard or watching the screen chasing the cursor and chatting with me. They are interested in whatever is going on and thrive in an environment that maintains a variety of toys and stimulation.
Bengal intelligence makes play even more fun; many bengals enjoy a good game of fetch! Some Bengals seem to take to the game naturally. Just find their favorite toy and give it a toss. Keep up the game and you will be surprised how quickly they learn. It is fun to watch Bengals use their paws like hands and jump to catch their toy in mid air. It is a great joy of bengal owners that Bengals continue to play like kittens all through their lives.
Some Bengals love water, and will splash in the sink, dip paws in the bath water, drop and “fish” toys in their drinking water or even sit in the shower with you. We even keep mini-waterfall fountains in the playroom for them to splash in where we don’t really worry about wiping up after them.
Bengals tend to have an extensive vocabulary, depending on their personality. Some are chatty and chirrup, peep, mee-row and make the sweetest little noises. Because of this wide vocabulary you will find yourself conversing regularly with your Bengal.
Food
Ask the breeder what they feed and try and stick to this diet, otherwise you may find your new Bengal Cat/Bengal Kitten will have loose stools during an adjustment period. If you want to feed something different, please introduce it gradually over a week or more, mixing in a larger quantity of the new food with the previous food each day to transition slowly.
Food & Water Bowls
Getting separate bowls rather than the ones which are joined together, as well as putting some distance between food and water dishes encourages them to drink more water. Some bengals respond really well to the waterfall, constant flow, type of water dish. A nice big dish that doesn’t tip over is important, since many of them play in their water.
Litter Box
There are many kinds of litter trays available. I would recommend one with a hood and if your Bengal Cat/Bengal Kitten will use it one with a door (like a cat flap). These stop the litter being thrown all over the floor and also reduce smell. Scooping solid waste daily and changing the litter and disinfecting the tray every 10 days to 2 weeks keeps odor to a minimum.
Litter
There are various types of litter on the market today. We use a clay litter, not the “clumping” variety, as its dust gets on the cat’s feet and fur and can be harmful, as it is ingested when they give themselves a “bath”. Please note that a sudden change of cat litter may throw a cat off their normally good litter box habits.
Collar/ID
It is recommended that you use some form of identification. Please remember that a collar is not a permanent identification. They can easily slip off or even be removed by someone. I would recommend micro chipping your pet; this is permanent and cannot be removed.
Scratching Posts & Cat Trees
Cats love to scratch, as they scratch they are leaving their own scent on an object. Bengals love to climb and be high up; I would recommend having a cat tree as this gives the cat something to sit on and nap on as well as being a scratch post. Many cat trees can incorporate hammocks, which our cats love to sleep in.
Toys
Bengals love to play and can spend hours chasing a little ball around. Today most toys are filled with catnip, this is like a drug for cats and they love it. Catnip relaxes and calms the cat, but can also make it loopy. Buy a catnip spray and watch what happens after you have sprayed it on their scratching post or cat tree.
Cat Carrier
You will need to purchase one of these to bring your new arrival home in and also for visits to the vet.
Food
Bengals can be incredible athletes! Many owners report that their Bengals will jump skillfully from the floor to their shoulders to take a ride. My considerably chubby older female still leaps easily to the counter, to the top of the fridge and then does a pull-up onto the top of the cabinets to take in the view. She has always terrified me by walking along on top of the stair railing for the second floor, looking over the downstairs entry. Even though they are great climbers they spend most of their energy climbing the cat trees and scratching posts that we give to them. With regular nail trimming they are not any more prone to scratching furniture than other breeds of cats.
Indoor Living
Your Bengal should live as an indoor cat, obviously for the safety and longevity of your pet. However, these animals are easy to leash train. They like outdoor walks and playtime in secured areas.
Responsible pet ownership and maintaining their safety are good reasons to choose an indoor life for your Bengal, but there are other reasons that you might want to consider:
1. These cats are beautiful and striking and will soon be "adopted" i.e. stolen by someone else if allowed to roam freely outdoors.
2. Bengals, like other domestic cats, are very good hunters. The Audubon Society warns us that pet and feral domestic cats are a leading cause (after habitat destruction) of the rapid decline of songbird populations in North America.
Walking Jacket
A Walking jacket is an improvement on a leash or harness for taking your Bengal outside as it is fabric and tends not to rub in the underarm areas. A harness will also work for taking your bengal along for the day.
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