About Bengals
Mocha Bear and Rising Moon Lila
Owning a Bengal cat is a unique experience !
Unlike the typical housecat, Bengals are extremely adept to climbing and jumping.
A Bengal will not think twice about leaping from on top of the cabinets to the floor and back up on whatever high altitude object is nearby.
As for climbing; well let's just say they would put Spiderman to shame !
Rosetted BengalSpeaking from personal experience, I too, was naive about Bengals and underestimated their amazing qualities.
My husband, best friend, and myself, worked furiously to make sure their environment was void of any access to exposed cords or little nook and crannies for them to fit in.
We purchased plastic fencing and stapled it to the rafters and contructed framework to go around our furnace. We were so proud, and thought everything was secure.
In reality, once the grand day came when the Bengals came home, we quickly realized we had just contructed a magnificent kitty jungle gym !
I watched in awe as these Bengals climbed the fencing straight up in the air and were able to walk fairly upside down along the ceiling.
My wonderful new felines also figured out how to make a hammock out of the areas that intersected at the top.So now that you have an idea of what you are in store for, here are some facts and myths about the beautiful, elegant Bengal:
| FACT | EXPLANATION | MYTH | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkative | Bengals will vocalize loudly when talked to, petted, or want something | A wild cat | It is true that their history is of Asian Leopard Cat decent, however any Bengal that has been decended 4 generations is considered "tame" |
| Playful | Bengals will happily play catch, swat and bite hanging toys, and pounce on things dragged across the floor | Timid | As with any kitten who has been socialized, Bengals will follow you, bump and rub your legs, and be very pronounced within a family unit |
| Curious | Bengals will wander around their environment investigating all areas possible. Don't be surprised if your Bengal hops on the desk where you are working and tries to walk across the keyboard! | Health Problems | Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Allergies, and weak immune systems are but a few of the myths about Bengals. HCM is a slight concern, however the parents should have already been cleared as a kitten through the breeder's veterinarian. IBS has also been noted but with proper diet this can be controlled. |
| Active | Bengals are not much for laying around sleeping all day, or hiding in a corner, like most house cats. They are very smart and demand attention. | Urinate all over the house | Bengals do not do this, as a general rule, unless you are breeding. In which case, an unaltered male and female may mark spots signaling their desire to breed. |
| Like Water | Bengals like to play in water. It doesn't matter to them what kind it is either! It could be their water bowl, the toilet, or their human's shower. Sometimes Bengals will toss their toys in their water dishes. | Destroy furniture and belongings | Bengals are not any more inclined to destroy furniture beyond what any other cat would do. Keeping the claws clipped regularly is important, or the use of claw caps. Having a cat tree is a must so that the Bengals can play and climb to keep them occupied. |
Bengals will easily blend into the social order of their family and bond to its members.
They will also learn to adapt to other animals in the house, as well. My cats have been exposed to dogs, other cats, a bird (uncaged), and rabbits (uncaged).
No one has ever suffered any harm !Bengals enjoy gentle handling and grooming. Handling a Bengal is like handling any other cat. If treated gentle when young, a kitten will grow up to be a gentle cat. If a cat of any breed is treated roughly, abused, or frightened consistently, it will become reclusive, defensive, and resentful.
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