The handsome Bengal is a modern, hybrid breed with origins tracing back to a cross with a domestic and a wild species, the Asian Leopard Cat. The result? A wild-looking domestic cat with a taste for adventure! Bengals are incredibly intelligent and endlessly energetic, with a bit of a mischievous streak.
Facts & advice
Bengal
A mischievous and intelligent breed with endless energy
Vital stats
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| Size: | Medium to large |
| Coat: | Sleek and glossy, leopard-like coat |
| Life span: | 12 – 16 years |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, adventurous, loyal |
Bengal personality & temperament
A Bengal cat is loyal and loving, and in return for plenty of active play and attention, they’ll reward you with affection and amusement.
- Just like the gorgeous Abyssinian, the Bengal cat personality is lively, curious and eager for adventure, so if you’re looking for a lap cat, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
- Their sense of adventure can sometimes spill into territorial behaviour towards other cats, so ensuring that they have enough resources in the home, lots of interactive play, feeding enrichment and space is recommended to avoid any run-ins with neighbouring cats. If this does happen, then consult a qualified behaviourist from the Animal Behaviour and Training Council for advice.
- If you’ve got the time (and the energy!) Bengal cats will play for hours with the right toys and interactive play.
- The Bengal cat temperament is sweet, loyal and loving. They bond well with their owners, but they also need their own space. They are suited to family life, as long as they are allowed plenty of space and time to play and explore.
- They tend to be proficient hunters, and interactive play is a must to provide them with an outlet for this natural behaviour.
Bengal food & diet
Bengals need a high-protein diet and will love fish and poultry!
- Like any cat breed, a Bengal cat’s diet must be appropriate for its age and life-stage. Bengal cats need food high in the proteins found in meat.
- The best wet food for Bengal cats is one that supports healthy digestion and contains amino acids, vitamins and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help maintain that famous Bengal glossy coat.
Bengal grooming & coat care
Bengals’ leopard-like coat is easily recognised among cat lovers. Despite this cat’s exotic colouring, their features are similar to other domestic cats.
- Bengal cats are known for their sleek and glossy coats. Bengal cat coat patterns are usually either spotted or marbled and come in brown and “snow” colours. They can also be black or charcoal, although these colours are not recognised for show cats.
- Some cats have that eye-catching Bengal glitter coat, which appears to sparkle in the sun.
- Bengal cat grooming can be fun for the cat and the owner, but the breed doesn’t need particular or special grooming, just a regular brush through.
- In fact, Bengal cats tend to shed much less than other breeds so the grooming is as much a bonding exercise as anything – just make sure kittens get used to grooming during the socialisation period.
- Regular brushing will help maintain their coat’s shine and allows you opportunities to spot any scratches, lumps, bumps or parasites.
Bengal training & behaviour
This lively and intelligent cat is lots of fun to train - if you can put the time in!
- Due to this breed’s combination of intelligence and energy, Bengal cat training can be challenging but rewarding and requires plenty of time and patience.
- Bengals often respond well to positive reinforcement training methods, for example to get used to a cat carrier, or tricks like playing fetch.
- A question we’re often asked about this breed is “how to train a Bengal cat not to bite”? Mostly, Bengal cats bite when they’re bored or excited, so ensure you have plenty of games for your cat or kitten to get started. Ensure biting is always focused on a toy and not encouraged around humans to keep fingers safe from sharp feline teeth – children should not be left unattended with an untrained Bengal cat.
- Good games for Bengal cats include anything they can chase and pounce on, such as a feather on a string or long, soft toy for grabbing and kicking with the back legs. Avoid using a laser pointer as these can cause frustration.
- Some, but not all, Bengal cats like to play with water, so try offering them a shallow, clean vessel like a clean litter tray, half fill it with water and pop in a few ping pong balls for your cat to bat.
- Bengal cats also love to climb and relish being high up, so an indoor climbing tree will help keep them out of mischief and away from your furniture!
Common Bengal health conditions
As a cat owner you will want what’s best for your pet’s health so they can live a long, happy life. Like all breeds, Bengals are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware and prepared for these potential ailments if they should arise, we have put together information on the health issues that we see the most in Bengals.
Like all cats, the Bengal can suffer from eye problems such as glaucoma (caused by increased pressure inside the eyeball); cataracts (opacity of the lens); entropion (inward rolling of the eyelids); retinal problems; or conjunctivitis (inflammation of the insides of a cat’s eyelids). Of these, Bengals are most prone to conjunctivitis, which has various causes including infections, scratches to or something within the eye’s surface, a lack of tear production, allergies, or entropion. Treatment of each eye condition depends on the type and severity of the problem, although many are treated using eyedrops.
Infections are caused by viruses and bacteria, and can be transferred from cat to cat through bite wounds. When cats fight (which is common outside of their normal social group) they often bite each other, transferring harmful viruses and bacteria into the soft tissue, which can become infected. Puncture wounds are often not obvious, but can result in fever and lethargy. Antibiotics, pain relief and sometimes lancing of the abscess is required to resolve the infection. Viral infections such as feline leukaemia and FIV (cat AIDS) are not curable, although feline leukaemia is easily prevented by a simple vaccination.
The Bengal, like all cats, can suffer from problems affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a long, winding tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus, with various twists and turns along the way. Signs of gastrointestinal disease include vomiting and diarrhoea. These symptoms can be caused by infections (such as campylobacter), poisoning or obstructions (caused by the cat eating something that can’t be digested), although these symptoms can indicate other more serious problems as well.
Cats’ kidneys are responsible for filtering the waste products from their blood into their urine. Bengals may be affected by kidney disease caused by infections, blockages, tumours or toxins (especially licking anti-freeze) as well as age related changes. Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidney function deteriorates gradually over a period of time. Treatment depends on the cause and the extent of damage, but usually begins by flushing the kidneys using intravenous fluids, followed by special diets and medications. Unfortunately kidney disease is irreversible, but with the right support many cats can enjoy a reasonably normal life.
Conditions that affect a cat’s bladder and urethra are collectively known as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is more commonly referred to as cystitis. Bengals can suffer from these conditions, which can be caused by stress, not urinating enough, infections and bladder stones or crystals. Cats suffering from cystitis make frequent, painful attempts to urinate, and blood is often found in the urine. Treatment depends on the cause, but cats diagnosed with cystitis will usually require pain relief, access to plenty of water, special diets and perhaps some help to reduce stress.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Bengal cat
Bengal cats’ temperaments make them lovely pets – but what do you need to know before bringing your new cat home?
- Buy your kitten responsibly and be wary of kittens posted for sale on unverified sites online.
- Bear in mind that while some cat breeds benefit from having a feline partner to play with, two Bengal cats just creates double the energy! Unless you’re adopting a bonded pair, you may want to consider having only one Bengal to see how you get on.
- Bengals are a great option for families and love to play, but they’ll need plenty of space to explore and do their own thing too.
- This shorter-haired breed is a great choice for owners looking for a pet with lower grooming requirements.
- There are no real notable Bengal cat personality problems, but be aware that some favour loud communication and can exhibit demanding behaviour, so prepare yourself for lots of cat chats!
Bengal frequently asked questions
Bengal cats are loyal and loving and can make excellent family pets.
Bengal cats are lively, curious and adventurous, and they love to play with gadgets. They will need a lot of stimulation and a variety of activities and games.
Like all cats, Bengal cats are ‘obligate carnivores', which means they have to eat meat and cannot rely on plant-based foods to survive. Like every cat breed, there’s no one-size-fits all cat food diet for Bengals and every cat will have their own dietary needs and preferences.
Bengal cats are one of the cleverest cat breeds and, therefore, can be easier to train than others. But you still need the time and patience, and success depends on your Bengal cat’s personality and willingness, as well as your training skills. As with any cat, you can’t force them to do something they have no interest in! They also respond well to clicker training, and the best training, toys and games for Bengal cats involve flexing a variety of their natural skills.
The average lifespan of a Bengal cat is around 12 to 16 years, though this can be up to 20 years with the right nutrition and environment. Pet insurance can impact the vet care you can afford for your pet, and may differ according to your cat’s F number.
Bengal insurance considerations
Bengals sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan cat insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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