Cross Breeds

What are your thoughts on Bengal Cats?

Does anyone here have the privilage of owning a Bengal? Id like to know some of your personal experiences with them, likes and dislikes. I have done much reading and self educating along with information provided to me by a qualified breeder so please, personal stories and experiences are what Id like to hear!!!! For instance - how did they adjust when you brought them home? Personalities? Likingness towards your other pets? Tell Me Everything You Can! :) I am seriously considering consulting a breeder about adopting one. Thanks All!!!!

Public Comments

1. My sister has a bengal and an Egyptian Mau. Of the two, "Benji" (original name for a bengal!!!) is very mischievous, and very intelligent! He is a beautiful cat, but can be quite a handful, and can be destructive if he is bored. I feel that if you want to get a bengal, you need to be prepared for this, and give them almost constant attention and things to do in order for them to be happy. You also need to totally cat proof your house, as they are more inquisitive than normal moggies! Benji and Floss (the Egyption Mau) get on ok together, but she is a much quiter cat, who is happy to just sit there and look pretty!!! Good luck!
2. My Bengal experience is somewhat limited, but as a former purebred breeder I can offer some tips. When I first encountered Bengals, about 20 years ago, they were pretty wild. Careful breeding has improved the dispositions considerably. Look for a reputable show breeder. Here are some things to look for: Someone who registers their cats with one of the big three cat fancy associations: CFA, ACFA or TICA This is personal bias I admit. Someone who actively shows their cats and has shown and /or bred at least a few grand champions. In the purebred cat world, champion means showing up with a cat that isn't disqualified. Gr Ch is comparable to Ch in the dog fancy and is hard to get. Some Back Yard Breeders "show" their cats just to get a Ch. title so unsuspecting buyers will think they are getting quality cats. Someone who belongs to a local purebred cat club or to a national breed club. These folks tend to be more knowledgeable about the breed and work harder at improving the breed. Someone who lets you come to their cattery and meet the mom cat and the other kittens. Someone who sells the cat with a contract that includes spay/neuter, health guarantee and agrees to take back the cat if ever you can't keep it.
3. This is my info on my Bengals Binnie and Marble. The info is in no particular order and might jump all around. I just typed what came to my thoughts at the time. Enjoy! I have 2 Bengals. One Snow Seal Lynx Point Spotted spayed female named Binnie Blue, who's 11 mos old and one Tricolor Brown Marble female kitten named Marble Rose, who's 12 weeks old. They are very smart and love to play fetch, learned their names rather quickly but I think it was because of giving them treats every time they responded to their names. Now they usually respond w/o the need for treats all of the time. They are very active. Binnie enjoys meeting new ppl and is always ready to play. Marble I've had for 2 weeks now and she has blended in and adapted very well. Binnie plays a tad too rough with her and I have to squirt with water but otherwise, Binnie loves to groom Marble and doesn't mind Marble curling up under her to sleep. Binnie was never a fan of water and doesn't take baths very well at all so I don't give them to her unless she's done something to get herself dirty, like jump in the toilet (which is exactly why I leave the bathroom door shut. And they like to chew on the tissue) Marble doesn't seem to mind water but doesn't go running to the faucet to play in it. Both enjoy sleeping on my lap and in my bed and cuddling. Binnie would rather keep to a schedule as far as me petting and cuddling with her, whereas, Marble is most of the time, up for petting and love. Marble also doesn't mind being picked up and carried, but Binnie does mind. They are very active and become very mischievous when bored. I got Marble to calm Binnie down since, when I would come home, I'd play with Binnie, but I wasn't able to all of the time, so she would do things that she knew was wrong, like jumping on my counters or kitchen table, to get my attention. Or she would repeatedly grab my leg and nip to get my attention. They are fast learners and quickly picked up the words No and Stop. But once they learned those words, they do those things again when I'm not paying enough attention to them. Binnie drools when I pet her so I have to keep a Kleenex available. They both wear collars and didn't fight very much at all when I first put them on. They both eat a half canned/half raw diet with a small handful of dry at night. They are very beautiful and pics do not accurately show this beauty. I have always gotten compliments on Binnie's look. Binnie was in the process of being leash trained but we had to stop once it became cold outside. I will start Marble as soon as weather permits. Neither has ever purposely scratched, but both will bite (not hard) if I'm doing something to them and they don't want to be bothered. Binnie gets along well with other dogs but it did take a short while longer for other cats. Neither are declawed and I maintain their claws by trimming when necessary. I plan on getting their shots every year for the 1st 3 yrs and afterwards, every 3 yrs. Marble will be spayed when she is old enough and microchipped. Binnie has a microchip. They are not allowed outside w/o their halter and leash as I believe someone would quickly "adopt" them if they say them seeing as though they are very beautiful and the person would prob have enough sense to know that they could make money off of selling them. I also have 2 Bearded Dragon lizards. Binnie is used to them and has never made any attempt to harm or attack them. Marble has tried to bite them but I have to work on that with her.