Bengal cats are one of the newer breeds of domestic cats. As they are becoming a more popular breed, many people are curious about their personalities and their characteristics.These cats will play for hours, either with you or with your things. When left alone for long periods of time they may easily be bored. It is important to keep them entertained by taking them outside and allowing them to enjoy family activities.
While they may look exotic, these cats are not wild at all. The price for these cats is quite high, which is why it is important to do your research before spending the money on one from your home. If you are not sure that you can take good care of them and give them the attention that they need, this may not be the pet for you. Here is a list of 16 pros and cons of owning a Bengal cat.
1. Managing their Grooming
One of the pros of choosing a Bengal cat for a pet is that managing their grooming is fairly easy. The coat of a Bengal cat is either spotted or marbled and is very short. This makes it easy to care for as it is luxurious looking and very soft. There is no need to brush them each day, about once a week is all that is necessary.
One of the reasons that many people fall in love with these cats is because of the unique patterns of their fur. These cats really look like they belong in the wild as their coats are really unique and remind a lot of people of jungle cats such as leopards or even tigers. The faces of the cats are wedge shaped, longer than it is wide, further adding to the unique look of these creatures. For those looking for an easy to groom pet, the Bengal cat is a great choice.
2. Athletic and Require a Lot of Attention
It is important to remember that this breed of cat is extremely athletic. They are not made to be gentle. The Bengal cat is very playful and energetic. Their body is quite muscular and at times they may not even realize their own strength. They love attention and are very friendly as they want to be played with all of the time.
They do well with young children if properly trained from an early age. If you do not have the time to give them a lot of attention, it is best to choose a different breed of cat. When these cats do not get the attention that they need they may become bored, which can lead to many unwanted behaviors such as destroying items throughout your house. Make sure you are ready to provide your Bengal cat with the attention it needs before bringing one into your home.
3. Basic Hygiene
While caring for a Bengal cat’s coat is quite easy, there are several other basic care items that need to be considered. The cat’s nails need to be trimmed about once each week and at times more often as they grow rather quickly. In addition, these cats are prone to infections in the ears. It is important to make sure to check their ears quite often for any swelling, redness, or smells that may indicate an infection.
If the ears are dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball. Your vet may recommend an ear cleanser to use regularly. They need to have their teeth brushed each night in order to keep their mouth healthy. Make sure to use a veterinary recommended toothpaste. It is important to start this regular grooming care when they are young so they quickly become familiar with the routine as it will be more difficult to get them used to when they are older.
4. Bathroom Habits
Just like other house cats, Bengal cats can be trained to use a litter box. It is important to note that Bengal cats are very particular about their bathroom hygiene. If you are thinking about bringing a Bengal cat into your home you need to be prepared to clean their litter box at least once per day. If their litter box becomes too dirty they will likely not use it.
A dirty litter box will often lead to the Bengal cat finding other areas inside the home to use as a bathroom. This is something that you do not want, so make sure that you are keeping the litter box as clean as possible. In addition, some cats of this breed may be particular about the type of litter that you use inside of their litter box. It may take some time to learn the type of litter to purchase for your particular cat.
5. Intelligence
One of the reasons that these cats have become quite popular over the past several years is because they are extremely intelligent. They are a very loving and sweet breed of cat, which makes them a great family pet. They love to chat and you will often hear them making noises, which can be simply adorable. They can be trained to walk on a leash, which can be a great way to entertain them as you can easily take them out and about.
You can also teach them to do many tricks, which can be quite fun. They are very athletic and love to run and play, so make sure that you are ready to take on new activities with your new family pet before you decide to bring them into your home. The Bengal cat can be a really fun addition to your family if you are willing to spend some time with it.
6. Entertaining
Since these cats are extremely intelligent, you are going to need to do everything that you can in order to keep them entertained. These cats are extremely nosy because of their intelligence. This nosiness will often lead them to doing things that they want to do, just because they want to. They will often go into places that you will not be able to get into and they like to do things on their own.
This can be difficult to deal with if you are not fully prepared for it. The Bengal cat is best for people who will be able to take the time to train them and to keep them entertained. If you are not willing to put in the time with your new pet, it is best to choose a different type of pet for your home because if you do not keep this cat entertained he is going to find ways to entertain himself.
7. Healthy and Athletic
These cats are extremely healthy when they are well taken care of. They can run and exercise all on their own when they are given the appropriate space. They can be trained to walk on a leash, similar to a dog. They are active animals that are very athletic. They tend to maintain their weight as long as their owners help to care for them appropriately. While they can be kept as an indoor pet, they also enjoy going outdoors at times.
This can be done in a number of ways. They should not be let out on their own unless it is in an enclosed area. If you plan on letting them go outside, make sure the space is safe and that you do everything to ensure they stay in the space that you want them in. These cats can be fun and entertaining as long as they are kept healthy and taken care of.
8. Heart Disease and Eye Issues
While overall Bengal cats are quite healthy when well taken care of, there are some inherited health issues that many cats of this bread seem to suffer from. Heart disease is common among this breed. These heart conditions may lead to the cat dying unexpectedly or simply not being able to be as active as they want to be. In addition, there are eye issues such as cataracts that may occur.
These traits likely occur because of their leopard ancestors from Asia. The poor vision that is caused by the cataracts can cause the cat to have many issues as they will not be able to see as well. They may bump into things and not be able to run, jump, and play as well as they would like. This may cause other behavioral issues to develop as well, simply because they will not be able to do all of the things that they desire.
9. Distal Neuropathy
Another common health issue that may occur in Bengal cats is called distal neuropathy. Distal neuropathy can cause the cat to become quite feeble. In addition, the energy level of the Bengal cat may be quite low as they will easily become fatigued. This condition may develop as early as one year into the cat’s life. Some Bengal cats that suffer from distal neuropathy will be able to recover from the disease on their own without requiring any type of medical intervention.
However, many of the Bengal cats that suffer from distal neuropathy will require some type of medical care in order to overcome distal neuropathy. The medication and exams that are required may become quite costly and this is something to consider when purchasing a Bengal cat for your family. Of course, vet expenses are necessary for any type of pet that you own, so this is not necessarily a deciding factor.
10. Other Common Health Issues
There are some Bengal kittens who are born with a thoracic deformity. This is referred to as flat-chested kitten disease. This condition is quite variable and can range from very mild to quite severe. The kittens who survive from this health issue will often not show any signs of it until maturity. In addition, these cats are prone to hip dysplasia. This condition can cause the cat to become lame or to develop arthritis.
Kneecap dislocation or patellar luxation may also occur. This can range from being quite mild to quite severe. In an emergency situation surgery will be required. This can be quite costly and the recovery time can be quite long. As with humans, all pets have the potential of acquiring genetic health issues. When purchasing a Bengal cat you must be prepared to deal with any health issues that may arise as it is just part of being a cat owner.
