Bengal Kittens & Cat Care: Information, Behavior, Pictures & More
If you are looking for a cat that has an exotic look, but without having the danger and size of a wild one, Bengals were developed just for you. Originally created by crossing a smaller Asian Leopard Cat with a domesticated one, this shorthaired, large-boned cat is known for having spots or a coat that has been marbled with many different colors.
None for their intelligence, Bengals are not the cat for you if you are planning on minimal interaction or a cat to sit and watch television with. This highly intelligent and curious cat is very active, constantly being on the move. They love to climb to the tops of high places, play fetch, and even go on walks wearing a leash. Bengals thrive the most when they have access to some type of large, outdoor enclosure which allows them to indulge their hobby of watching birds.
Depending upon the individual Bengal, they may enjoy playing in the water, which means that if you have a fish tank, you may need to keep an extra eye on it as they will try to go fishing in it, if left unattended. The Bengal is an entertaining, happy cat who is going to require a lot of your attention. They normally do best when you are able to spend a lot of your time home with them, playing and interacting together.
Here are some quick facts about Bengal cats:
- While Bengals can have coats that range in a wide variety of colors, some of the more common colors include gold, brown, rust orange, ivory, and buff. The spots on a Bengal are always going to vary in color, usually from a cocoa or rust, all the way to black or charcoal.
- Some Bengals will even have coats that are made up of multiple different colors, normally having a second color form around the outline of one of their spots. Their coats can even come in more of a marbled pattern, having one or multiple colors swirling together into their background color. It is, however, much more common to see them with a spotted tabby pattern, as opposed to the marbled pattern.
- The coat on the Bengal can sometimes have an iridescent sheen on their hairs, often times making it look as though they have been rolling around in glitter.
The History of the Bengal
It is no secret that people have always found wild cats to be independent and beautiful, with some trying to keep them as a pet, such as cheetahs, lions, and ocelots. Whenever this did happen, it would normally end with some type of heartbreak and disappointment. Enter the Bengal cat, who was originally bred in order to fill the desire of a pet cat that had a wild look. This was accomplished by crossing a domestic shorthaired cat with a wild Asian Leopard Cat. This breeding program was started back in 1963, by Jean S. Mill. All of the Bengals that you come across to this day descend from one of the cats that she bred during the early 1980s.
The Bengal was officially recognized as a cat breed in 1991 by the International Cat Association. The breed, however, is not a recognized breed according to the Cat Fanciers Association.
Bengal Cat Personality and Temperament
Bengals can be extremely fun to live with but are not quite suitable for everyone, including those who have never owned a cat before. Bengals are very intelligent, active and curious, as well as demand that you give them a lot of attention and interaction, turning on their owners who are not able to provide it for them. If you are planning on getting a Bengal but know that you will be away for most of the day, you may want to consider having two of them or simply getting a different breed of cat altogether. When Bengals are not stimulated and began to get bored, they have been known to get destructive and are great at taking stuff apart, as well as opening up any drawers or cabinets that they have access too. Because of this, you may need to invest in some interesting types of food or toys to keep them busy.
When you have a pet Bengal, they will love you to death and try anything if it means that it gets your attention. If they are to figure out that you don’t necessarily like something that they like, such as jumping onto the kitchen table for example, they will start to do it more often as it gets your attention and forces you to have to interact with them. They also like to take your things and hide them around the house. So be sure that you put all of your jewelry and other small stuff someplace that they are not going to be able to get to.
While every cat is going to have a different personality and act differently around other animals, Bengals do get along with most other pets, even if that other pet just happens to be a dog. As for children though, that is a different story. If you do have children in the home, it is best if they are older and will be able to play with them, but as long as you can make sure that they are going to have an escape route from smaller children such as a toddler, they will more than likely be just fine as they can leave whenever they want. But if they do not have that escape route to get away, that entire situation should simply be avoided.
Bengals are natural born climbers, meaning that they are going to require a space that has a lot of territory for them to climb up. They prefer to go as high as they possibly can, so the more vertical space that they have to play, the better off they are going to be. So, make sure that you allow them access to plenty of tall trees and window perches. Bengals are also very fond of playing in the water. What this means is that you need to be prepared for them to potentially make an appearance with you when you are in the bath or taking a shower. And if you have any motion sensor faucets in your kitchen or bathroom, you may find that it is simply easier to switch them out for a regular faucet, as your Bengal will turn on and off your water. But if that is not an option, your Bengal will appreciate having a fountain that they will be able to drink from.
Bengals are also extremely intelligent and love to enjoy any attention that comes when they have been clicker trained. For your cat to not get bored, you are going to need to continuously challenge them mentally and keep them physically active as well by teaching them different tricks, games, and even incorporating different puzzle toys and other cat toys that reward them with treats or some kibble when they are able to learn how to use them.
When you are looking for the perfect Bengal cat for your home, be sure that you only choose a kitten that comes from a Bengal breeder who is able to raise the litters within their own home and handles all the kittens from a young age. You are also going to want to actually meet at least one of the parents, but ideally both of them, in order to get an idea of their temperaments.
Bengal Kitten & Cat Health
As with any breed of cat, there is always a chance that they can potentially develop some kind of genetic health problem, similar to how people have the potential to experience different diseases. Whenever a breeder tells you that there are not genetic or health problems, is either going to be lying to you or simply does not know much about Bengal cats. With that being said, you should always run away as fast as you are able to whenever a breeder doesn’t offer any kind of health guarantee on their kittens. Who is really going to claim that any one breed is always 100% healthy and without any known health problems? Or who claims that their kittens have been isolated away from the main areas of the house because of health reasons?
Bengals do have hereditary types of health issues that can potentially become a concern, this being truer if you are not very careful about the breeder you purchase your cat from. One of these types of conditions is called polycystic kidney disease, but you can now have DNA testing done to help remove any of the cats that are affected by this from breeding. Bengals are also much more prone to becoming infected with some other infectious diseases, some of which include trichimonas foetus (a potential infection that will cause your cat to have explosive diarrhea) and feline infectious peritonitis. Any responsible breeder is going to take all the necessary steps to identify and avoid any of these problems from happening.
Just remember that it is up to you to prevent your new Bengal cat from falling victim to one of the most common health problems of all time, obesity. This means that it is up to you to keep your Bengal at the appropriate weight as this is one of the easiest ways to help improve and maintain your Bengal’s overall health. So be sure that you do what you can with your preventive abilities in order to ensure your cat stays healthy for life.
Grooming Your Bengal
When it comes to Bengals, they are known for their soft, short, luxurious coat that is very easy to care for and maintain with some weekly brushings. They are going to love getting all of the attention you are giving them, and the more often that you do brush them, the less hairballs and dust bunnies that you will find laying around your home.
Everything else that they require is going to be basic care. So be sure that you are trimming their nails weekly or as they need it. Check out their ears on a weekly basis looking for any kind of redness or bad smells that may indicate that your Bengal has some type of infection. If their ears are dirty, be sure to wipe them down with a soft cotton ball that has been dampened with some sort of gently cleanser that has been recommended to you by your veterinarian. As for their teeth, you are going to want to use a veterinarian approved toothpaste and brush their teeth very frequently while at home, as well as schedule any special cleanings from your veterinarian as needed. The earlier that you start trimming their nails, brushing their teeth, and brushing their coat, the more accepting of these activities your Bengal will become. So, it is always recommended that you start these basic grooming practices while they are still just a kitten.
Choosing the Right Bengal Breeder
There is a good chance that you are going to want your Bengal to be healthy and happy, leading you to enjoy all of your time with them. This means that you may have to do a little homework prior to actually bringing one home. You can find more information on Bengals and even find a breeder by visiting the Fanciers Breeder Referral List, as well as The International Cat Association websites.
If the breeder you are talking with really is reputable, they will operate with a code of ethics that will prohibit any sales to any wholesalers or pet stores and will outline the responsibility of the breeder to both their cats and any potential buyers. You are going to want to select a breeder who has performed any and all health certifications that may be necessary to screen for any kind of genetic health problems, as well as make sure that they raise the kittens in their home. Any Bengal kittens who are left alone or isolated can easily become skittish and fearful, leading them to become tougher to socialize later in their life.
