Anyone have a Bengal cat or any experience of them

[LardLizard]

I love the look but even my local vets said don’t get one

Here's our Tiger-Lily!

Quite a few end up in rescue as people like the look of them and can’t cope with their behaviour. Tormenting other cats in the neighbourhood and generally being complete bastards.
I wouldn’t have one.
And yes. Dear god kitten season will soon be upon us.

I’ve a Bengal cross and she is wonderful with children, has never scratched them BUT hates other cats, with a passion. She has also destroyed sofas, carpets and anything nice to clack despite going out. She’s wonderful though, she is the sweetest cat ever, she falls asleep with her paw on my dd’s face some nights.

I have to say regarding some posts about Bengals being aggressive to other cats that it depends how well socialised they are as kittens. Our neighbours unfixed Tom used to come and visit us (steal food!) and my 2 adored him and used to let him on the sofa for a cuddle. They are more likely to be beaten up than be the agressor. They are strapping lads at 6.5kg each but are very much not territorial or nasty to the local cats. I don't know where this reputation has come from. Yes they need stimulation and attention in their formative months but all kittens/cats should get that anyway.

I’ve got 2 and they are gorgeous. The older male is very vocal and quite bossy to younger female and our dog but at night they all cuddle up together. They like to get up high so we have a cat tree etc . They also like to leap up on cupboards/doors etc. Mine are mainly indoor cats as I do sorry about them being stolen or run over. They go out in the back garden whilst we are out there. The male cat is very vocal, he shouts and talks to you. He will eat anything. The female will only eat one brand of crunchies. They are both loving and affectionate in their own ways.

worry not sorry!

Oh and I would echo those who are saying their Bengals are dog like. Our male definitely thinks he’s a dog and plays fetch etc.

Is it just the look you like, OP?

Just seems a strange reason for choosing a particular breed rather than temperament.

We had one in our neighbourhood that was determined to get rid of all the other cats. It badly injured one of ours and even managed to get in our house to hunt out cat down. In the end a local mum ended up trapping it and "disposing" of it. It was all w giant nightmare. It had injured multiple toddlers. I really wouldn't OP unless you can keep it inside.

I remember seeing a Bengal up for rehoming that was dragging another cat off it’s food. I do agree that it is about socialisation and reputable breeding.

We have a Bengal cross, her tummy is beautiful and she has the biggest beautiful eyes ever. However, she is a complete madam and very dog like. Demands to be fed several times a day, still won’t tolerate her moggy younger brother and greets us at the door when we come home . We wouldn’t swap her for the world, but she’s high maintenance even as a cross breed. I’d be wary of a full Bengal no matter how beautiful they are

I have had two, my first was the most amazing gorgeous cat we have ever owned, played fetch and slept on my daughters bed and would follow us to the shop. He was like a dog and sadly got knocked down by a car and had to be pts. Second one is very grumpy, hates being locked in at night and will wake everyone in the house up before someone lets him out. He hates us all and just about tolerates us living in his house!.

Wow what a mix lot of replies sounds like they can vary so so much

A Bengal cat will keep you on your toes - that's for sure!

I really really can't stress enough how much of a problem our NDN's Bengal has been for our rescue cats.

Please - if there are established cats on your street (and not just NDNs - Bengals have a huge territory - please think twice about getting this particular breed.

Why not consider a regular moggy from a shelter OP? The best part of being a cat owner is the personality and snuggles.

You can get both from a regular moggy if you choose well.
Cats out of kittenhood also give a better indication of temperament.

Bengals seem like a fashion statement to me which no animal should be.

Please don't shop ... adopt. There are so many poor kitties that desperately need a loving home and whose lives literally depend on it

ps I live next to two and while they're okay they're nothing special.

One is a bossy and prone to swatting at you. It always wants into my house/ at my cat's food and doesn't have a nice temperament (I say that as a cat lover). I've had cats before that are bossy but they've been funny/cheeky with it and ultimately cuddly. This one isn't!

The other one seems like the runt of the litter and has had many health problems. It's extremely small, barely bigger than a kitten and very nervous. I feel quite sorry for it. Goodness knows how much they paid for it/ how much it's cost them since.

Merely anecdotal but the neighborhood moggies are all superior imo.

They're beautiful but they're definitely not your regular moggy.

As for the person upthread recommending a Savannah - they're even more work than a Bengal! I know a lady who has one - he's gorgeous but he is absolutely not a regular cat. They walk him daily on a harness and lead, and their garden is fully enclosed and protected so that he can run and climb in safety. He's absolutely gorgeous and very friendly but pretty expensive to own.

Why are you keen to get a Bengal, OP? Why not get a regular moggy?

I agree with adopting from a rescue or shelter. We have a lovely Manx cat from the RSPCA - she chose me - unfortunately she has to put up with our Bengal... He is loud and shouty, scratches all the furniture and generally enjoys being a pain the arse 😂 But I love him to bits. I've enjoyed reading everyone else's comments about their own Bengals! Glad I'm not alone! My husband bought ours from someone as a surprise...good job I'm an experienced cat owner. I went mad that he had bought a cat rather than rescue one though. Every cat is special and has a lot to offer, they don't need to be a fancy breed to be a good companion or beautiful!

I would echo those who are saying their Bengals are dog like. Our male definitely thinks he’s a dog and plays fetch etc

Our Bengal comes with us when we take the dog for a walk. Trots along side like a little dog.

He is very loving but utterly mad and the noise he makes, oh my god the howling.
I wouldn't get another one.

adaline granted Savannah's can be high maintenance, but they don't tend to have the behavioural issues that bengals do. Yes, they can be harness trained and yes they like to climb, but they're also incredibly intelligent, very affectionate and fantastic pets

Dh says our Bengal is a Jack Russell in a onesie.

I've been reading this thread but haven't finished it, sorry. I will read the second half but I'm enjoying it so much I need to take my time.
Our gorgeous Bengal is so friendly and calm, she's amazing and has helped DD so much with her feelings about her disabled brother and sick and old parents! Dcat's markings are not great so I describe her as "a breed but not a pedigree". She is like a dog, plays fetch and follows you round, loves visitors and has never brought in anything dead. She has converted a few of our friends who thought they didn't like cats and even a couple who thought they were allergic but accepted her advances and discovered they weren't as allergic as they thought! However, a friend has her half sister and that beast is neurotic, difficult and unfriendly. It's a lottery as it is with any pets

We tried to rehome one. He was an utter nightmare. The cat sanctuary where we got him from strongly suspected that he was far nearer to the wild cat than he should be and was the product of unscrupulous breeding. He had already been rehomed about 5 times. We are very experienced cat owners but we found him very difficult. He was huge and 100% pure muscle, he was unlike any cat we’d evet come across. He basically looked like he should be on the Serengeti. That said, I did adore him, he was very damaged but I know given time and stability he would have been fine but like I said, we’ve always had cats. The only reason we couldn’t keep him was because he really really wanted to kill our other cats. I have no doubt that if he’d caught one that would have been the end of it . He also sprayed everywhere despite being neutered.

That said, my friend has one who’s very placid and gentle. He’s half the size of our one though.