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Original poster

Please talk to me about Bengal cats

78 replies

Qcng · 02/10/2019 20:48

Basically this.

I have posted this here and also on "pets"
We're thinking about buying two Bengal cats, because I have researched as much as I can and think they are simply gorgeous, brave, lovable, full of personality, etc.
The fact is though, we have no experience of keeping one, have never even known one.

So I'm throwing it out there. Please anyone with any knowledge of Bengal cats let us know the downsides/upsides! I don't mind if you've had one, your neighbor or cousin had one, you heard of someone who had one, just any experiences.
We're trying to research as much as possible and I trust mumsnetters.

Thank you

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Thread gallery
6
RetreatingWeasels · 02/10/2019 21:13

identical thread from yesterday

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/10/2019 21:39

Terrible idea. If the pair bond it’s ok, if they grow up to be wanna-be single cats you will live in ww3 and they’ll piss everywhere.

There’s a breed rescue, Bengal cat club, look on there for an idea of what issue they can have.

gubbsywubbsy · 02/10/2019 21:42

I have two part bengals , one much more Bengal than the other. They are brothers and have a lovely time playing together . One is very busy and goes out all day but the more Bengal one thinks he is a dog and follows me round the house and is very loving ..
they are bright and busy , I have heard bengals are tricky so maybe go part ? Mine had a Bengal mum that got out 😬

Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 12:45

I'm warming to the idea of a half Bengal or cross breed! Thank you.
(They're also much cheaper)

Anyone else with experience of Bengal cats?

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Skinnydogfatcat1 · 03/10/2019 12:55

I have a Bengal. She is gorgeous to look at ......however she is moody, bossy, hates people, bites the hand that feeds her (yep), hates other cats, dogs & children. Very vocal, especially at 4am when she wants food. Does not like going out into the garden without us, Likes the door open open even in winter. I would not leave her alone with children.
We have got through so many cat sitters. Jumped out the top window of a house while saying with a relative, took the skirting board off when someone else was looking after her. Now some one comes in and looks after her when we are away which includes petting her - head & chin only no belly stroking.
She has mellowed over the years, but did used to attack my husband for no reason. She is a bit fat as we have failed miserably to control her weight.
We of course love her to pieces and wouldn't be without her.
But if we knew then what we know now, we wouldn't have got a Bengal.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 03/10/2019 12:57

Honestly?

I think Bengals should only be owned by experienced cat owners.

Beamur · 03/10/2019 12:59

Have you had cats before? Pedigrees or otherwise?

MustardScreams · 03/10/2019 13:01

Do not get a Bengal if you’re a novice cat owner. Just don’t, they’re high-need, loud, boisterous, difficult animals. You need to have spent time around them to know what it’s like to live with them, anecdotes off the internet are not enough.

Go to a local rescue and get some kittens or adult cats from there. Bengals are pretty, but other cats are a billion times easier to live with and also beautiful.

This is why so so many bengals end up in rescues at 4/5/6, because people like the look of them and don’t actually understand what they’re like at all.

Bluewavescrashing · 03/10/2019 13:05

My neighbour has one. He's stunningly handsome but thinks he's a actual tiger. Prowls around all day stalking my (neutered) cat, eats her food (we bought a microchip cat flap but it was rubbish), chases her round the kitchen at 4am,growls and yowls constantly. Far too highly strung for my liking and I'm a real cat lover.

exWifebeginsAgainat46 · 03/10/2019 13:06

i have a half-Bengal and she finally started to mellow when she reached 12.

until then, she was into everything, a climber, very vocal and occasionally made of knives. the vet tried to chip her, and suggested i wait outside. i could hear her growling from the waiting room. three vets attempted the chipping process. two emerged bleeding, the other looked a little shaken. they had been unable to chip her.

she’s a lovely cat, and always very loving to those she has chosen to love. but, if you’re not on the list, approach at your own peril.

you really need to understand how bonkers Bengals can be. getting two pure bred cats when you have no previous experience of them sounds like madness to me. have you owned cats at all previously?

Windydaysuponus · 03/10/2019 13:08

I posted a pic of my Bengal' knock offs' a while ago to a poster who had paid for a pedigree but had clearly been sold a moggy!!
Check out rescues and find yourself a fake one op!!.Much better pets from what I have read!
Save ££££ too!

Please talk to me about Bengal cats
PickledLilly · 03/10/2019 13:12

I’ve got a Bengal cross (her mum was a Bengal) and she’s honestly the most lovely cat I’ve ever had. Brilliant with children, very friendly and affectionate and not afraid of anything. They can be quite vocal, mine likes to bellow at me when I’m putting her dinner out because I’m not doing it fast enough but she’s an absolutely lovely cat.

PickledLilly · 03/10/2019 13:18

I’d always advise you choose a cat based on personality rather than looks though, mine doesn’t look like a Bengal at all, a couple of her siblings did and were absolutely beautiful but a lot less friendly. I chose the kitten with the nicest personality from the litter, not the prettiest.

Daaps · 03/10/2019 13:32

I don’t have one but my friend does. In all honesty I find him a pita. I like cats, I’ve 3 of my own but this one is more like an untrainable climbing dog than a cat. He is very demanding for attention and shouts his head off all the time. I know they have to get up with him at night and he has trashed the curtains and scratches people and leaps about. If you were to ask my friend she would say he is the best cat ever though. They don’t let him out in case he gets nicked which probably contributes to his liveliness indoors. I think ‘personality’ can get wearing after 15 years of it, unless like my cats the personality is “lazy bastard”

Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 14:08

Have you had cats before? Pedigrees or otherwise?
Yes yes yes!
When I was brought home from hospital after I was born, my parents put me on the floor and let the cats sniff around me. I grew up with cats. 2 generations of cats.
Also had my own cat as a young adult.
I'm not a stranger to cats, in fact the opposite!

It's now time for us to get cats for our family. I love how Bengals appear, I'm working through the other replies thank you.

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Beamur · 03/10/2019 14:15

I know nothing about Bengals Grin
But, if you are considering any other breeds, short haired Orientals make splendid pets.

Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 14:20

getting two pure bred cats when you have no previous experience of them sounds like madness to me I know I just absolutely love the idea, my son wants a cat that will "swim in the bath with him" (he's 5) we've seen videos on YouTube of Bengal cats swimming in the bath. No other cats like water much. Apart from the Van cat. But they're very rare.

They don’t let him out in case he gets nicked which probably contributes to his liveliness indoors Shock Bengal cats need so much more exercise than other cats! They need to be outdoors, how cruel. No wonder the cat is so badly behaved.

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AmIAWeed · 03/10/2019 14:20

this is bonkers, I have 4 bengals and they are all totally different.
Our eldest is your typical 'nightmare' bengal. Adores and loves my husband but dislikes me and the kids. He is one for peeing but that is as hes got older, he has set spots so I put litter trays there. Not great in the living room but better than cat piss!
The other 3 are all totally different. We have a girl, ex breeding queen. Incredibly timid but adores the eldest cat, follows him everywhere.
We have a further 2 boy bengals, full of life, great fun and absolute snuggle bugs.

We do have a catio so they can get some outside space without causing issues. Our eldest caused issues with the neighbours chickens :/

In addition to that we have 2 other cats, both strays who wondered in off the street. Our eldest doesnt get on well with them, he's too rough but all the others are fine.
We also have 2 dogs who get on fine with the bengals, no better or worse than the other 2 stray cats

My Dad also has 2 bengals. 1 was mistreated and terrified of people. They've had him 3 years and he wont come near them, they put food out, clean his tray and that's it, they have no interaction with him as he runs away. Their second is an ex breeding queen, more confident than ours and an absolute softie.

Yes they tend to demand more attention that a 'normal' cat but less than a dog. I think they are fantastic pets

Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 14:23

Short haired Oriental? Wow. Beautiful. But are they "brave" and do they like water?

Please talk to me about Bengal cats
OP posts:
YesItsMeIDontCare · 03/10/2019 14:27

my son wants a cat that will "swim in the bath with him"

Please don't base your choice on this. I have a cat who walks on a lead, but it's more luck than judgement and very unusual. You could well end up with a cat you can't cope with who won't even do the one thing you want it to!

Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 14:33

Please don't base your choice on this
Well, yes it's probable we'll end up with a Bengal who hates water but at least we can say we tried.
(I'm not going to be throwing a Bengal cat in the bath by the way. There is a gradual learning process from when they're young).

What type of cat do you have that walks on a lead YesItsMe?

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Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 14:36

IAmAWeed wow your home sounds amazing! Thanks for your fully rounded descriptions.

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Original poster
Qcng · 03/10/2019 14:38

IAmAWeed Would you say a Bengal cat's personality is dependent on their early years environment?

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Fluffycloudland77 · 03/10/2019 14:40

After 10 years our Bengal will sometimes stand in a cm of bath water but swimming would be out of the question.

He isn’t scared of water he just isn’t interested in it.

Basically with bengals if you love cleaning up cat wee at 6am or 10:30 at night while being yelled at by a cat who won’t shut up you’ll love owning a Bengal.

MissMarks · 03/10/2019 14:42

I have had two. Both female. They were both stunning but definitely not lap cats. Second one hated people she didn’t know and especially hated children.
We now have two moggies and they are great and so much friendlier