Does anyone own a bengal cat?

[orangecandles]

I've just adopted a kitten from a rescue. The lady who runs the rescue has text me to say she's had a bengal kitten come into her care that needs a home and would I be interested. I mentioned to her previously that I would always consider getting another kitten.

She is absolutely beautiful! A very expensive breed and unfortunately not had the best start in life by her owners that bought her.

I'm so tempted to take her but she has to be kept indoors at all times. I've never had a house cat before - mine have always gone out to foam as they like and luckily they have always been safe.

I completely understand why she has to be kept indoors. She would be stolen in a heartbeat - she's like a white leopard - just gorgeous!

Does anyone own a bengal? What are they like as indoor cats?

Pros/cons please!

Thank you! X

100%correct
Huskies are absolutely NOT for a novice owner.
Nor are Akitas or many more larger breeds.

Bengals - An F4 or F5 ought to be ok with a dedicated owner

But OP has decided against it anyway.

IF I was going to get a Bengal, I’d want to know he or she was responsibly bred-
Too many people are breeding their pets for what they think is easy money with zero thought or knowledge of health risks.

(Cats and dogs)

One man a few years back was breeding his female Shar Pei with a neighbour’s Shar Pei

They had no idea of the pedigrees or coefficients of inbreeding- the girl had about 4 litters, minimum.
sold for £500 each

As a fully paid up member of team dog, the only cat I’d have is a bengal. Bengals are just dogs in cats bodies.

I’ve never owned one, but one owned us. It belonged to a neighbour but temporarily decided that it liked hanging out with us (in the garden) for one long, warm summer. It even would jump in the car if we tried to go anywhere. Now as a dog person this was totally fine, but it definitely gave off more Labrador than British shorthair.

We got 2 Bengal cats, 1 male the other female, first one we got was 4ths old his now over 2, the little one we got at 6wks old she's now 6mths, both are neutered. I would say the male one is a chill one, the female one is too naughty lol
At the beginning we didn't let them out at all for a couple of months, the little one since turning 6mths has only recently been hanging around the garden...the big one is much adventurous now and is mostly out.
Both are chipped and have trackers on their collar's. They can be easily bored and need play time with their fav toys...mine love fetch lol, they also love the wand toys with feathers etc at the end.
Both cats happily play together nicely too.
They love heights so we've put up floor to ceiling cat posts, and a higher up wall bed which they love. We found they got litter trained within a day. Over all friendly beautiful cats you will love yours 🐱

Sorry I am one of those who posted about their cat without paying the tax. She is half Bengal, half moggy. Her mother is a show pedigree, supposedly indoor, but she escaped and "found her true love" as the owner put it.

My friend had a giant running wheel for hers!

Fabulous coat (and bonkers position) Hugh'scat!
Stunning eyes Vix3rd'scat!
What a shy cutie Pixcat!
Extra duvet Blueuggbootscats

I am loving these photos! I really want to post a picture of the one I was thinking about re homing but I better not. She is a snow bengal. Never knew one existed! Absolutely stunning. Gorgeous massive blue eyes!

But it's still a no. Definitely the right decision for us. She will have absolutely no problem getting re homed though.

Mine does this too! Follows me around the house shouting at me to go to bed, then is on me before I'm even under the duvet 😁

Ours is bonded to DS3 (15) who goes to bed at 10pm & if he doesn't, the cat makes damn sure he knows it's bedtime, sits outside his door mewling his boy to his room. Then sleeps on his pillow after a game of fetch.

My gorgeous glitter coated boy

They are an absolute nightmare. Complete troublemakers and often get the shits which they’ll do everywhere. Probably the most noisy and hard work cat you could ever have on paper there are no pros only cons BUT they are beautiful and cheeky and very occasionally ours would want lovely cuddles - not often though and on his terms only 😂😂😂

Amazing to see yours in a similar pose to mine @Inastatus

I had never seen a cat sit like that before, stretching out those loooong legs

He looks gorgeous. They have coats like oiled satin. Just the smoothest ever!
the 'Glitter' is beautiful on them..best seen in person as it's so deep and ..glittery!

I don’t get why people think they are high maintenance. They’re just full of personality, that’s all. I had one, and he lived with Abyssinians. All indoor cats. He loved getting in the shower with me, and he loved to be up high - he’d sit on top of the doors and jump onto your shoulder when you passed. Very vocal cat, and very smart, as well as very loyal and cuddly. I think they’re brilliant cats.

We had a bengal and I don't recognise her from any of the descriptions here! She was an indoor cat - we had a siamese too she played with. She wasn't a lap cat until she was 5 or so, she wasn't destructive, or a bully or noisy, she did chirrup at the birds outside but not bothered to go out. As an indoor cat we did make her enrichment activities, she had cat trees and she did manage to catch the only mouse we ever had in the house, the siamese was not bothered. Picture for tax!

I love the 'Oriental' exotic type of cats- they are Loud and full of personality.
I have an ''honorary cat'' now, {Pic} but family member has Burmese girls.

I’ve got a 9 year old Bengal. She’s not hard work at all. She is an outdoor cat, would never be able to keep her in, she’s a real adventurer! She’s not often a lap cat (more so as she’s got older ) but always always wants to be in the same room as us, just at the other end of the sofa or bed 😂
The only downside is that she’s a prolific hunter 😬 she is so so lovely around me and the children. She’s a vicious wild animal at the vets but calms right down if I hold her. They often ask me to hold her for jabs as they can’t manage her 🤣

@oakleaffy thanks. Yes irl the glitter is stunning 😻

@hughs - they are like mini wild cats aren’t they? Your cat is a beauty.

I’m really surprised at some of the comments on this thread. I have two female bengals and have had normal moggies before. One spends most of the day outside and does hunt but no more than any cat I’ve had before, and the other has the option to go out but doesn’t want to. They are lovely cats, great with my little kids and huge personalities.