You may have caught yourself watching too much cat videos or dreaming about owning your friend’s Bengal cat, so now you’re wondering if you can get one for yourself. By clicking into this article, I’m glad to see you’re putting in the first step – researching!
Bengal cats are fairly high maintenance because of how demanding they can be due to their behavior. You have to schedule consistent playtime to make use of their big reserve of energy, socialize them, and it takes a lot of patience to train them.
This cat will get bored easily if you don’t provide enough entertainment. You can buy toys and cat trees to make it easier for the both of you, as Bengals love to run around the house, jump over objects, and climb on top of high furniture.
ASPCA classifies their personality as being fun and challenging. They need exercise, and lack of it may lead to problematic behaviors such as meowing excessively, opening doors in the kitchen, and making a mess of your home.
All notes aside, this breed is loyal and loving. The bond formed is worth every effort.
Do Bengal cats need special care?
Bengal cats do not need special care. They are similar to domesticated housecats in need of a high-protein diet, weekly brushing, nail trimming, scheduled playtime, and their own space to call territory.
Do Bengal cats need a special diet?
Not really. Bengal cats are carnivores, and you probably know that this indicates a high-protein diet.
A recommended way is to keep everything in balance. Switch between wet food and dry food.
This breed is a result of mixing the Asian leopard cat with domestic cats, and we can trace the simple diet of the former; they are hunters, feeding primarily on small animals such as rats, birds, and lizards.
With Bengals, they’re not much different, but as they’re domesticated, there are options for you and your cat.
Dry food
Dry food diet comes with the good and the bad. It is higher in carbohydrates compared to wet food, and can be lower or higher in fat or protein.
Dry cat food is also cheaper and can last longer in a its container compared to its wet alternative.
Your Bengal surely needs the basic source of energy (carbohydrates), but dry food may not be the best when your cat is not keen on keeping itself hydrated and active. Make sure that it drinks as much water after a dry meal, because the risk of developing urinary tract diseases is certainly not worth it.
Signs of possible dehydration can be spotted by judging the color of the urine – it must be transparent or a light yellow. If it’s a dark yellow or orange, your cat needs to drink more!
Do not forget playtime too, as you may not be aware how much you’re feeding kibbles to your feline. Excess weight gain will shorten the lifespan of any forms of life, pets or humans.
Wet food
Wet food or canned food is high in moisture so you don’t have to worry much about water content. It is usually made with fresh meat added with more protein, fats, vitamins and water, then stored in cans to undergo heat to eliminate pathogens.
However, canned food has an immediate expiry date, should be placed in certain conditions, and can be quite expensive.
Raw diet
Raw meat diet or BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods or Bones and Raw Foods) is what wild cats naturally eat.
Keep in mind that your Bengal is domesticated, so this is risking contracting foodborne illnesses from Salmonella, which also puts you in the red line.
It can be commercial or homemade. If it’s your cat’s first time venturing into this diet, make sure to consult your veterinarian about this cat diet.
Plant-based diet
Cats cannot thrive on a diet provided by plants. Felines are not biologically equipped to digest some enzymes like we do.
People have put their pets on a vegan diet, and this deprives your Bengal of its primary need of high protein, possibly leading to taurine deficiency. ASPCA strongly advocates against this, because they require essential nutrients that plant materials can’t provide.
How many times a day should I feed my Bengal cat?
Kittens can be fed three meals a day, whereas an adult Bengal cat can be fed twice daily.
It all depends how you’re going to ration the food. When feeding them full meals, breakfast and dinner should do well.
As for free feeding, you leave out dry food on the dish throughout the day so your Bengal can eat anytime it wants, but make sure to measure how much you’re going to give. This will not work for a wet food diet, though.
Should you bathe Bengal cats?
Bengal cats have short coats that can be maintained by themselves or simply by brushing their coats. If your pet has a backyard to play in or if it’s an outside cat, bathing them once or twice a week is good enough just to wash down the dirt settled around the roots of their fur.
Do Bengal cats need to be groomed?
Yes, Bengals have to be brushed, their ears cleaned weekly, and have their nails trimmed. These soft bones can curve into your cat’s foot pad, so keep them short by clipping it every 10 to 14 days.
Take a semi wet cloth and carefully clean the outer shell of your cat’s ear; don’t wait for dirt to color it brown. A buildup of earwax can lead to yeast infection.
Do Bengal cats cry a lot?
This breed is talkative, and will not shy away from telling you when they’re hungry and thirsty, bored, or are going through something painful or uneasy.
Owners of this breed have had the pleasure to learn that they meow in different ways; Bengals can chirp, cry, yowl, or do it in a manner you have never heard before.
Please be mindful of your neighbors when getting pets in general, especially a Bengal cat, because they love chatting your ears off!
Do Bengal cats ever calm down?
If there’s one word to describe this breed, it’s hyperactive. They do calm down as they grow, but during their kitten phase, and sometimes during their adulthood, they remain playful, curious, and always active.
Vet Street rates their energy level to a full five stars (just a tad bit crazy), so do you think you’re up for that? Because Bengals are anything but boring!
Can Bengals be left alone?
They can be left alone for a limited amount of time, not exceeding a day. This breed are social felines and are always looking to get themselves occupied (whether with the wrong items in your house or toys).
If you’re constantly away and with no one to look after your Bengal, perhaps it’s time to survey other available cats. When leaving them alone at home, they should never lose access to food and water, and clean litter!
Is it better to have two Bengal cats?
Yes, Bengals do best in pairs or with another pet companion. Ideally, they should have bonded early together as young animals, and if not, that may take the time and energy to socialize them.
Every Paw states that Bengal cats get depressed when by themselves for too long. Bring in a friend and see that it’ll improve their overall mood.
However, one Bengal cat can be quite pricey (it can cause you a thousand dollars above for a quality kitten), so what about getting another?
Do Bengal cats need a lot of space?
Not much, as long as they have toys and furniture to jump on and a space to retreat to.
Bengals are the wild cats in the domesticated world. They love letting out their natural predatory behavior on anything that can be prey (good for playtime!), jumping on shelves and watching their kingdom from above.
The space is not the problem, it’s keeping your Bengal from boredom, so here are the basic must haves for your furry friend:
- A cat window for your feline to take a peek on the outside world, see the birds and rodents pass by the street or yard.
- Invest in interactive toys.
- Their own territory (you can buy a cat tower/house or go DIY).
- Don’t forget litter boxes!
- A playmate. Dedicate a few minutes every day to drain the energy out of that hyperactive furball, or maybe get a furry friend.
Are Bengals good for first time cat owners?
Yes, Bengal cats can be good for first time owners as long as they’re aware of what they’re bringing into their home. This breed is highly curious, intelligent, and has other demands in order to make the best out of their nine lives!
Never get a pet just because they’re cute or it looks fun for a moment. You’re adding another member into your family that has its needs, feelings – a sentient being – so think it through.
Are you available for your Bengal and can fulfill the demands? They pay back with love, loyalty, and fun times!