Bengals Are Obsessed With Water

Bengals have a fascinating love for water, reminiscent of their wild ancestors. Many Bengals show a delightful obsession with water; it’s not uncommon to see them dipping their paws into their water bowls and licking the droplets instead of simply drinking. They often enjoy playing in water at every opportunity, sometimes splashing water from their bowls or playfully interrupting their humans during showers or baths. These cats find joy in fountains and love to engage with running faucets, displaying sheer delight in the process. If you have a fishbowl or aquarium, be prepared for your Bengal to take an interest they might just enjoy pawing at the glass or trying to catch the fish swimming inside!

Bengal Cats Have A High Level Of Intelligence

Bengals are incredibly intelligent, and when you combine that smarts with their high energy levels, you’ve got a recipe for mischief. No matter how many cat toys you provide, they often lose interest quickly, prompting them to seek out their next adventure. These curious cats are notorious for claiming random household items as their own, often running off with things you wouldn’t expect. What’s more, they seem to have an uncanny ability to identify your most valuable possessions and can’t resist the urge to investigate or even destroy them. And just for fun, Bengals are known to engage in playful standoffs with other animals, staring them down with an air of confidence and mischief!

Bengals Are Known For Their Hunting Prowess

Thanks to their wild ancestry, Bengals are exceptional hunters with a natural talent for fishing. If you’d like to temper this instinct, it’s a good idea to expose them to small animals while they’re still kittens. However, supervision is essential during these interactions, as accidents can happen. Always keep a watchful eye on your Bengal when they’re around smaller pets, such as birds or rodents. This way, you can help them socialize while ensuring everyone stays safe and sound!

Bengals Rule Over Their Territory

Bengals are fiercely protective of their territory, and this can lead to some serious conflicts if not managed properly. If you’re considering adding more than one Bengal to your home, it’s best to start with a pair or to have other cats already living there. Introducing a new feline can be a challenge, as Bengals don’t take well to changes in their environment and can become stressed. To help them feel secure, it’s a great idea to provide a cozy box, a cat tree, or a crate that they can use as a safe haven when they need to unwind. Remember, Bengals are best suited as indoor cats, not only for their safety from outdoor dangers but also to protect local wildlife from their hunting instincts. Providing a stable environment will help your Bengal thrive!

Bengal Cats Are Lovers

When raised in the right environment, Bengals can be incredibly affectionate companions. They form strong bonds with their humans and often exhibit dog-like behaviors, following you around and even playing fetch! Thanks to their high intelligence, Bengals can learn basic commands like “sit” and “stay.” However, their keen observation skills can lead them to pick up on unwanted behaviors, too. They might figure out how to turn doorknobs, turn on faucets, and even flush the toilet—sometimes repeatedly! Their clever nature makes them both entertaining and a bit mischievous, ensuring that life with a Bengal is never dull.

Caring For And Raising Your Bengal

To keep your Bengal happy and healthy, here are a few important tips to consider:

If you don’t plan on breeding your Bengal, it’s advisable to have them spayed or neutered. This not only contributes to their overall health but also helps prevent behaviors like territorial spraying or litter box issues.

While Bengals may not be overly excited about toys, it’s a good idea to have a variety available for them to choose from. Additionally, make sure to store any precious or valuable items out of reach, as they might see them as toys.

If you want to avoid the sound of the toilet flushing at all hours, be sure to keep the lid down. This simple step can help reduce their urge to experiment with the flush.

Lastly, remember that Bengals love to play in water. To make cleanup easier, consider placing their water bowl on surfaces like linoleum or tile. This will help manage any splashes or spills!

Socializing Your Bengal

Contrary to most beliefs, Bengals are good with children. However, the key to this is to associate them as kittens correctly. Early on, it is crucial to associate your Bengal with as many people, including kids, as possible. This will, in the long run, go a long way in helping to keep your cat from placing its loyalty and affections on one specific person, which can lead to personality problems down the road. It has been found that if a Bengal bounds to one human, they will show signs of severe fear towards anyone else—for no reason at all. To socialize your Bengal:

• While your Bengal is still a kitten, introduce them to other animals and pets. Bengals are capable of living in co-existence with other cats, and even dogs, but they must be exposed to them as a kitten for the best results.
• It is best to keep in mind that a Bengal is not the first choice if you are wanting a lap cat. They will never behave perfectly, and as such, they will and do eventually get into trouble—you just will not always know how or when.
• Bengals have in recent years taken over the title of being one of the most popular breeds in agility—which was initially held by the Border Collie. Agility training will help to keep your Bengals mind active, and its attention centered. There are even agility competitions that are geared towards cats only if you wanted a new hobby as well.
• It is suggested that all Bengal cats be indoor cats. Other than the fact that there are dangers abound for them outdoors, both physical and health-related, Bengals are also known, because of their inherent wild ancestry, to be a danger to wildlife. If you want your Bengal to experience the outdoors, and occasionally take in some fresh air, they are known to be easily harness trained.

 Traits About Bengal Cats

Some necessary information to know about Bengals, if you are considering the breed:

• The average lifespan can be from 10-16 years of age.
• The average size is approximately 8-15 pounds or 3.6-6.8 kilograms
• Basic body structure presents as long, muscular, and can be medium to large in size.
• Developed ancestry is from an Asian leopard cat and the domestic tabby (or the Siamese mix if of the “snow” variety.”
• The fur coat is usually dense, soft, silky, and sometimes described as “glittered.”
• Patterns on the coat can be either spotted/bull’s eye, marble or rosette in nature.
• Bengals are mild to highly hypoallergenic.
• They have a low degree of shedding and a small amount of grooming needed.
• They are highly active and very athletic.
• They are very capable of being socialized with both kids and dogs.
• They are very vocal by nature.

         Bengals are a special and unique breed. Many owners of Bengals have found that once they have one, they tend never to want another breed. Again, as mentioned above, they can be a handful and caring for one is like having a whirlwind with a mischevious sense of humor running roughshod over your home—but in a good way. If you find yourself wanting to purchase your own, we offer Bengal cats for sale. Just contact us for more information.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM

Bengals are prone to a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM, otherwise known as “the silent killer.” This form of heart disease is often inherited and may even be recessive or dormant in both parents. The disease can, therefore, pop up after generations of breeding. The condition leads to abnormal thickening of heart wall muscles, related thrombosis (or blood clots), and congestive heart failure. Initial clinical signs include arrhythmias or heart murmurs, which can be detected during auscultation in a physical exam. HCM is diagnosed via radiographs or an echocardiogram.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Cataracts

Both progressive retinal atrophy or PRA and cataracts are two hereditary eye conditions commonly seen in the breed. Retinal atrophy refers to a photoreceptor disorder—the wasting of the photoreceptors of the eyes—and leads to premature blindness. Responsible breeders should test their Bengals for PRA before breeding. Cataracts are also a common issue; cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes increasingly cloudy over time.

Anesthetic Allergies

Some individuals are sensitive to anesthetic agents, which makes them “high-risk” anesthetic patients. Specialty clinics that are accustomed to handling complex anesthetic cases can often manage your cat’s surgery appropriately.

Luxating Patellas

This condition is generally a result of an inherited malformation. Bengals are prone to luxating patellas, and it doesn’t help that they are so active. In a healthy knee, the kneecap usually sits in a groove called the trochlear groove. When a knee “luxates,” it pops out of place or dislocates entirely; this leads to sudden or prolonged lameness and degenerative arthritis. Luxating patellas can be managed by keeping a cat within a healthy weight range. Otherwise, surgery is often recommended.

Kidney Issues or Renal Failure

Chronic renal failure is not a condition specific to the breed, but it is a disease worth noting because it is so common in older cats. Chronic kidney issues are often first characterized by an increase in thirst and urination and commonly present in older cats. Kidney infections and stones put cats at a higher risk of long-term kidney issues; this susceptibility also compounds with age. Your veterinarian can perform diagnostic tests to screen for kidney issues.

Skin and Coat Issues

Psychogenic alopecia or over-grooming causes hair loss in all cats. It is a similar condition to obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. The condition is generally triggered by psychological disturbances such as boredom, new household stressors, and similar drivers. Hair loss may also occur from flea allergies, environmental allergies, food allergies, and dermatitis.