Bengal kitten - do the all have "wildish" behaviour in the house? can they beleft in the house when going to work?

[keyboardwithpaper]

We have 2 children and wanted t get 2 kittens, but now decided to narrow down to 1 kitten...
We liked the look of bengal, but when I read info on some of th cat forums, I became scared...

we have 2 children who could play with them, but I am worried about nights - can they be disruptive/ vocal etc?

Also, if I go to work, chn to school, and they stay in the house, can they damage things?

Please share your experience...
Thank you

I have a half Bengal ( I also have 3 "normal" cats ) and he is very vocal. He sounds like a baby crying 😂

But to be fair he only gets really really loud when he wants to go outside. He chatters throughout the day and is the only cat who chats back when i talk to him

I think any cat has the potential to destroy the house, you need adequate toys and scratch mats to keep them occupied. My half Bengal is my loudest cat but he is also my most loving. I think he's the smartest too but DP may disagree on that one

Please do some research before getting a Bengal. Yes, they can be destructive. No, it is not a good idea to leave them alone all day. Yes, they can be hard work. Not a good match for small children. Think very carefully about how much time and effort you can spend playing with a demanding Bengal.

I have a colleague with 2 Bengal cats. He regularly comes to the office with really badly scratched hands/arms.

I have a half bengal. Like previous post he can be loud when he wants something! But he is the sweetest cat ever. He has so much personality and it's so loving.

I have had three Bengals and they have all been slightly different in personality. I do adore them as a breed but they are not like other cats IMHO. I think one alone is likely to be more problematic. They get lonely. They need company. And they can be destructive if bored. I think the best way to think of them is like a puppy and unless you are going to be at home a lot I would suggest looking at another breed which may be kinder for the animal(s).

We have 2 half bengals half moggies. They are wonderfully sweet. One is very vocal in a chatty way, though has recently developed an annoying habit of sitting in the hallways yowling in the evening purely for attention, you have to call his name or go see him to stop him. He just wants a fuss and attention. Or food. His sister is the most affectionate cat I've ever known, more like a dog. Follows us everywhere, sits on your lap as soon as you sit down. They're 7 now and still very playful with toy mice, balls, string, scratching post. Both sleep through the night until about 5am then wake someone up for food. Then go back to sleep. They very much get separation anxiety though. As one of us works from home they have unlimited attention, if we go away for the night they definitely let us know of their disapproval when we return by sulking or knocking things off surfaces.
They're great fun and playful and affectionate. I believe full bengals are more vocal and into destroying things though!

Oh and I'd definitely get 2 - that helps with their separation anxiety, they play together, sleep together often and groom one another it's so sweet!

We have a half Bengal rescue. She takes up a lot of our time, is vocal, quite destructive, and is at the vet about once a month.

@keyboardwithpaper, why not speak to your local rescue and see if there's a pair of kittens that need a home? Is there a reason you're looking at particular breeds?

We have a half Bengal rescue. She takes up a lot of our time, is vocal, quite destructive, and is at the vet about once a month

Agree. Bengals are vocal, can destroy things, get bored easily. Don't get one if you think this is going to be an easy cat.

As others have said do the research. Bengals are not like domestic cats. One of mine has some Bengal in her and she can be a right madam. They get big. If you must have a pedigree the British Short Hairs are usually laid back. If you can cope with the grooming Persians and Ragdolls are fabulous. As someone who fosters kittens my suggestion would be to get two if your children are younger than teenagers. Kittens are full on and bite and scratch when they are little. If they have a playmate rather than jumping all over your preschooler that makes for family harmony and a saving on plasters. If your children are younger why not get a young cat from a rescue as the rescue will have an idea of the cat's personality. My farm cat with some Bengal is stunning to look at but nervous. She would be a dreadful family cat. Her brother was a complete tart and loved everyone. Another cat was really shy as a kitten but matured into a much more settled into a snuggle monster. Our Maine Coon was a cuddly kitten but then ignored us for 6 years until he decided for reasons of his own that he might like us. Kittens are cute but you don't really know what you are getting and as they live for up to 20 years you can be stuck with Miss Aloof or Mr Snappy for a very long time.

Most pp are describing half bengals - there's a reason that most people don't keep full bengals.
What is it you like about the breed apart from the 'look'?

You could be living with this car for the next 15-18 years so you need to choose a cat that suits your lifestyle. If you're working full time and have 2 young children then please don't get a Bengal. They need a lot of time, stimulation and exercise. They're often aggressive and can be destructive and prone to anxiety issues. They're very difficult pets in general.

Please choose a pet that suits your lifestyle, not an expensive pretty cat that will likely be a nightmare.

Read www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/3766857-Thug-Cat-part-2-What-has-this-thing-appeared-again-tonight and part 1. The story of a Bengal and his campaign to be allowed to move next door. It might help focus your mind.

@BovaryX

We have a half Bengal rescue. She takes up a lot of our time, is vocal, quite destructive, and is at the vet about once a month

Agree. Bengals are vocal, can destroy things, get bored easily. Don't get one if you think this is going to be an easy cat.

Couldn't agree more Bovary. When she's at home (they also like to wander OP), we have to keep such a close eye on her as she's a fan of chewing / clawing things to bits, as well as peeing where she shouldn't 🙄

She's always getting into scrapes and is always at the vet. We have synchronised with another Bengal owner who has the same problems 😂

And yes, echoing what a PP said about anxiety / separation issues. DP (my Bengals favourite person) went away with work for a month and she pined, hard. It was really sad to see.

I have none of these problems with my moggies!

the reason we thoight about bengals is that they are very energetic and our chikdren want to play with an energetic cat...akso the fact tgat bengals are brave, not afraid of water etc

My ginger moggy is fearless and loves water... Definitely not breed specific. Bengals are hard work.

keyboard

As Joris says, Bengals can destroy things, they can be very noisy, they need alot of attention and not good with kids. They are hard work and need alot of care. You need to think if you can provide the right environment for a Bengal. They are definitely not an easy pet.

So many descriptions that match my part Bengal moggie! She was a rescue and we love her to bits, but boy is she different from any other cat we've had in the past.

Very vocal and attention demanding. We haven't been away yet, and I'm dreading leaving her (obvs no near prospects of holidays away atm thankfully). She wouldn't be happy with a neighbour just popping in to feed her, as previous cats were.

Our cat loves playing, we all bear the scratches from her playing. She loves pouncing on us from a hiding position (mostly no claws when she does this). We love her, but she is very much like another child in the amount of energy and attention devoted to her. She is adorable and will tolerate much of our teens' attentions though :) We are very much her slaves.

She sleeps through most of the night, but does get active at 5am these summer days. And she lets us all know it!

We're kinda in shock still that she's so demanding, compared with previous cats in the family

Also OP, no cat is automatically good with children, it takes patience on both sides

I've had three bengals, one died so I currently have two.

They are not like any other cats I've had (and I've had cats all my life) I'm not recognising my cats from some of these descriptions. Mine aren't especially high maintenance and are actually quite lazy. They are noisy though, my boy has the loudest miow in the world and if he wants your attention he will howl until he gets it. My cats have always been indoor and I have a large run in the garden for them but a neighbour has a Bengal that goes out and it's a lovely little thing.

Bengals are really clever, and I suppose if they weren't looked after properly they could become destructive. Same as any animal. I have never had an issue with any of mine but they are really well cared for and they get lots of attention.

I've got three children under five and my cats have all been fine with babies, they tend to retreat for a while after the birth but that's it. Mine have all been total lap cats as well, they are very affectionate. I've never been scratched by any of them.

It can depend on the 'grade' you get. My boys were f5's (so 5th generation) and therefore more like a normal cat. My female is an f3 and so looks much 'wilder', she's absolutely beautiful, but actually has the nicest nature of any cat I've had.

I believe that you get back what you put in with any pet. Bengals are no different and if you treat them well they are wonderful pets, not a 'nightmare' at all.

the reason we thoight about bengals is that they are very energetic and our chikdren want to play with an energetic cat...akso the fact tgat bengals are brave, not afraid of water etc

I'd strongly suggest you do more research. How old are your children?

A lot of cats do not want to be mithered by children regardless of breed, and bengals can often be more aggressive.

Do you have other cats in the neighbourhood? Bengals can be very territorial and cause significant neighbourhood upset
icatcare.org/advice/bengal/

I'm not sure how being comfortable with water translates into a priority characteristic for a pet either?

Honestly OP, I think you need to prioritise you needs and lifestyle - you seem to be focussing on wanting a pretty cat with quirky characteristics rather than planning for a long term pet who'll live with children in a working household

Actually, I've reflected a bit and I would probably say don't get a Bengal kitten. If you must, get two, which sounds counterproductive but Bengals do tend to do better in company.

My two males were about 5 years old when I had my first child, so obviously not kittens. I then got my female after my second child was born, but she wasn't a kitten either, she was three.

I'm thinking back to when my boys were kittens and they were a lot of work then. Not destructive as such, but into everything and quite needy.

I would not have got a Bengal kitten (or any kitten really) as a pet for small children. My cats were all older and so much more settled.

There's a link to a Bengal rescue site on the first Thug Cat thread, with lots of descriptions of the kind of behaviour to look out for.

We have a full Bengal, he was my fiancée’s cat before I met her, he’s an absolute nightmare, he’s 7 years old and is the highest maintenance naughtiest pet I’ve ever had, and we have a dog, another cat and two rabbits. I would never ever get another Bengal.

-He is extremely vocal, I’m talking at times not stop meowing and screeching for hours and hours despite having all his needs met
-He’s too clever for an indoor cat, he gets bored very easily, we have bought countless toys and puzzles and he solves them and grows bored of them almost instantly, he can open doors and windows, he waits by doors and as soon as they’re open bolts, so he escapes very frequently then hides growling and in a panic becomes aggressive, he cannot be an outdoor cat due to his breed and him panicking every time he is outside, so we have to put up with him screaming by the door for hours, and not opening windows and have numerous times been out searching for him in the pouring rain, snow and in the dark as he’s got out and hidden under a car or on a shed in the neighbours garden and won’t come out/down
-He is very naughty, he cannot be trusted in bedrooms as he repeatedly soils beds if given the chance so we have locks on our bedrooms, waterproof blankets on our sofa as he’s ruined countless pieces of furniture
-He is very demanding, will only drink fresh water from a tap, so literally screams at you non stop every time you go near one until you turn it on, he won’t eat biscuits that have been in his bowl all day, wants fresh ones, any slight changes unsettle him and he starts soiling everywhere, escaping, moaning and screeching constantly
-He will sit outside our bedroom door at all hours screaming, if locked downstairs he will jump at the door handle and door screaming for hours which is very loud
-He eats human food, will break into cupboards and eat bread, which is his favourite, will rip open bags of cat food if he gets near them, so his food (and bread) is hidden or put in glass jars.
-He has never bonded with me despite me playing with him all the time, doing the majority of the care for him in terms of feeding him, he won’t let me stroke him, he won’t sit on my lap, he is obsessed with my fiancée and demands constant attention from her, he’s aggressive to certain people if they go near him

Honestly, I am a very relaxed pet owner in terms of what I can accept behaviour wise from pets, I have had numerous cats and I would never ever get a Bengal again. We have a Ragdoll and he’s golden, no problem at all. You have to eyes in the back of your head with a Bengal, have to adapt your behaviour and house massively to prevent destruction and them escaping. He’s been taken to the vets so many times as we thought something must be wrong with him, there’s nothing wrong with him, we bought another cat so he would have company thinking he was lonely, he doesn’t like the other cat and they fight frequently, he seems to like our dog, which is strange, but nice I suppose, they get on well, but yeah I would never ever get a Bengal again.

@Elsiebear90

I probably just see the end-of-tether owners but yep - what you describe is pretty standard from the Bengal owners I know !