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

@catgotyourbrain I have a pair of Bengal / Abyssinian crosses (idiot breeder accident). One is very Bengal - huge / talkative/ loves playing with water / territorial as anything/ big skull. The other is very typical aby- delicate, playful, jumps on you from in high. They’ve both got ticked spotty coats which are gorgeous and they like coming for walks with us. I am thinking of abys next time (these are 18)

My Bengal died last October at the age of 18 and I wouldn't get another. I have had loads of cats over the years and she is the only one I found to be hassle. She was not a nice cat to have around unfortunately.

She was incredibly noisy (to the extent the neighbours complained and I hardly ever got a full nights sleep without being woken up) and she was difficult to handle (would scratch if you picked her up or tried to put her in the cat basket).

A family member has one that is half Bengal and it is a horrible cat. Don't get one. And I love cats, have two of my own! This half bengal looks at you like it's plotting to kill you in your sleep, gives no affection, wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

My friend has one, very handsome but an utter bastard😺
I'm not brave enough, I know my cat limits!

Ours is a snow Bengal, f4 generation and bred from a reputable breeder. Absolutely wonderful cat. Loving but needs attention. They "chat" and call which we've got used to but visitors always remark on. He's very intelligent and will play like a dog. Don't regret buying a Bengal at all.

neighbours have one.
vicious beast.
if he decides to rest in your doorwat, that's it. if you try to approach to get into your own home it attacks and rips you to shreds. (we are now keeping a broom in the front garden)
and he pisses everywhere in the garden, which stinks.
and he leaves lots of bloody small animal on the lawn.

I have had four, now have two - one rehomed from RSPCA, one we got from a breeder as a kitten to be a companion to her (she'd always been around other Bengals). Rehomed one is a total softy, very curious and cuddly, loves running around and playing. Would never hurt another cat, has been attacked by a cat in the street and just ran in the house calling for help. Other one is very playful, nervous around new people but incredibly affectionate to us and loves being around older cat (though can play a bit rough). Quite high energy and vocal cats but love a snooze, like moggies. There seem to be a lot of wild generalisations about bengals but they all have their own personalities - in my experience the difference from moggies is that they are very active, playful, curious and all mine have been loving.

@londonbelongstome
That sounds a lovely combination. My mum used to breed Siamese and oriental cats- which were lovely and very striking. As I live in a busy and highly populated neighbourhood I thought to myself: “oh a Siamese will get too much attention and get stolen, I could get an Abyssinian - they’re quite plain and unobtrusive” I was so wrong - he was absolutely stunning and show stopping. There’s a church nearby and people used to park on our road and look forward to meeting him in a Sunday.

Sadly it was exuberant running across a very quiet road that did for him - it’s a rat run

I had a Bengal, unfortunately he died about 18 months ago.

He had A LOT of personality, was very territorial, but no behaviour problems. He was loud, never stopped meowing but he was loving and playful and also very huge haha.

I miss him.

We got our Bengal because a friend had just got one and she has two kids with SN and the cat was ok with them. So I thought it would be safer to get a Bengal rather than a rescue moggy to live with DS who has severe ASD. And so it seemed to prove.
Our Bengal hates it when we are on the phone and mews loudly in the background, she has to be put out or shut in if it's a call to someone other than friend or family. She also herds us, at first I thought she wanted me to sit down so she could get on my lap, which she sometimes does, but often she wants me to go and sit down and then she leaves once she's got me in the right place!

I forgot to include this. She was keeping me company while I was ironing

Oh yes, you have to stick to a routine. Anything out of the ordinary must be investigated. Loudly.

Adopt don’t shop.