Bengal cats – a breed with Attention Deficit Disorder?
According to Steve Dale at My Pet World, "If a cat breed can have attention deficit disorder, i...
According to Steve Dale at My Pet World, “If a cat breed can have attention deficit disorder, it’s the Bengal.”
Bengals are bright, active cats that demand activity like few other breeds. If their natural playfulness and demands for activity are left unfulfilled, they can resort to destructive behavior, such as trashing their litterbox or knocking things over. If Bengal owners make the effort to meet their unique needs, they are rewarded by the cats’ intelligence, playfulness, and affectionate natures.
Marilyn Krieger, a cat behavior consultant and coordinator says Bengals require places to climb and activities when people are not there to entertain them. “A cat tree with various levels is important, and perhaps it overlooks a window is where you put the bird feeder. I suggest a Turbo Scratcher for Bengals because it’s two toys in one for cats twice as active (as most). This combination scratcher and track toy is available online and in pet stores.”
I purchased a cat from the humane Society. They said it was a brown Tabby.
That is not the case. Rio is a Brown Bengal.. He is a wonderful cat. Yes he had lots of energy but only in the morning before I feed him and later in the afternoon. He likes to sleep the day away. He likes to talk. If I can’t find him I shake his treat can, and he comes running. He has made my day.
Hey I was looking at some wed site on bangel cats breeds. Relizing that my cat is part or full bangel . He was huge with a very long tail very smart.WE have a garden center & he loved to wait for the customer to walk in iles ,then he would jump on there shoulder to give then hughs & kisses. Customers talked about him all the time. But someone stole him from us .Sept 3 I miss him dearly.I guess tatoo; microchips & neutered didn’t matter, still haven’t found him.So enjoy your cat they are so fun I have 2 other cats but they’re not like him.
I have a male bengal.He is orange and white and BAD….He love to play with our dog.You NEVER turn your back on him as he will jump and attack you.He loves to pull your hair.We love him and hope he will calm down some as he is just 5 months old.He will not take no as an answer,more as a challange.He keeps us busy but if you have one you know the rewards outweight the challange of trying to keep him busy.I also have a cabit who hate,s him but she will adjust in time, I hope!!
ADD cats…. LOL thats about as funny as my co-dependant cats that suffers from separation anxiety when i am away too long… wait thats me….
I have a silver bengal he is great he loves the kids and watches the house he thinks his a dog . But he is very demanding for attention we love that
Maribel
We bought LOL from the animal shelter, not realizing what she was! She had her op the day before and was still effected by the anesthetic. We thought what a lovely quiet kitten!! Ha..2 days later her real persona surfaced, then 8 wks old now 9 mths and 10 days, wouldn’t swap her for the world!! All the above traits and more!! Oh..LOVES drapes!!! First signs that we had a special cat were her LONG legs, love of water & EATS!!
I have had Casey since she was a kitten. I adopted her from a private rescuer who said that her mom was a feral cat who had her kittens in the window box of her home…the local animal shelter who did her shots and spay said that she is being classified as a domestic short hair…but based upon her markings she is at least part bengal. She loves attention on her terms, and she has a major I am the queen of the house and you are here to serve/play/pet me. But I wouldnt have it any other way.
We adopted Toby from a cat rescue and saw that he was not an ordinary tabby at all . Searching the net I identified him as a Bengal and he is the most intelligent, beautiful animal ever. We rescued him the day before he was to be put down. He looks just like the photo on this site and we all love him.
We adopted TOBY from a cat rescue , he was about to be put down. The lady said he was a tabby but he was no ordinary tabby cat with his voice, athletism, intelligence and beautiful pelt type coat so some research on the net revealed he was a Bengal . He is the spitting image of the one photographed in the first image on this site and the best cat ever!!!!!
I picked up two bengals, which I named Osiris and Isis. Needless to say they’re both interesting, I can call Osiris’ name and he’ll look me dead in the eye and talk. When they spot a fly it’s so hilarious! The chattering noise they make is so interesting. They’re expecting their second litter any day now
Hi, we’ve got two wonderful tabbies, brother and sister, with fantastic temperaments, they seem just like the bengals described here. They’e getting on now, and we’re starting to think about what kittens we’ll get when they sadly leave us (hopefully a while off yet). We live in a country village, and our cats love to run around the garden and field during the day, but come in to sleep at night. Could a Bengal live in and out like this, or do they have to be kept indoors?
Hi Alison! My bengal is about 6 months old and he’s an indoor/outdoor cat. He comes and goes throughout the day and he returns home at night. Sometimes he doesn’t even leave home pending the weather. He’s a great indoor/outdoor cat and he oddly knows to come home before night falls. However, he’s incredibly friendly so it’s easy for someone to snatch him. He usually lays out on the grass in the afternoon and the neighborhood kids will come out to play with him. He even lets them carry him. So they can be indoor/outdoor cats; however, they stand out and it’s not that hard to steal one.
We have a Bengal cat named Cleo. She chatters when she sees something that looks like a bug. She jumps up the door as high as your head. They have strong personalities and are remarkable with their personality.
Some Bengals are recommended to be keeped Indoors cause, they will resort to there wild instincts! I keep my Bengal indoors at all times unless Im walking him with a leash outside.
Why are they always kept indoors? Is it the hunting thing?
I BOUGHT A HALF PIXIEBOB/BENGAL, I HAVE 3 PIXIES BUT THIS BENGAL HAS SOOOOO MUCH PERSONALITY AND SHE LOVES CHEESE ONLY L O L DELI SLICED WILL DO WE CALL HER SPIDEY FOR SPIDERMAN SHE HAS BEEN SWINGING ON MY CHANDELIER AND ON THE TOP OF MY HUTCHES. SHE CAN SURE JUMP!!!!!!!
My Bengal Keeyno is so adorable.I was sold what was classed as runt of the litter.This is the first time I have had a male cat.I do not allow any of my cats outside.His many adventures are had indoors.He does not take to visitors right away. He does “talk” to me and hs sometimes a demanding personality. I really do enjoy him.
I got my cat, Lucifer (from Cinderella), from the local animal shelter. His coloring is what caught my eye. Although he was always very skittish around new people he was very loving with family members. In looking at the website I realize he was either part or whole Bengal as he had the coloring and characteristics described, including the gold sparkle that gleamed in the sun. He was playful, loving and very loyal. He and I would have “conversations” while I showered. He would stand just outside the shower curtain and as soon as I meowed at him he would answer with a long, loud yawwwl and this would go on for a while. When he actually jump into the shower I was really surprised, since I had always heard cats were not partial to water. He was the 2nd cat I’ve ever owned and definitely made me a cat lover. Unfortunately Luci became very ill in October with kidney disease and in a matter of 2 weeks he passed on. I tried desperately to save him but it seems he’d been born with only 1 good kidney. I haven’t been able to bring myself to get another cat but I think it’s time, my other cat needs the exercise! I will look again in the shelters or rescues and hope to find a similar cat, I’m sold on the Bengal personality and adopting makes me feel like I’m making a difference. Luci was a real jewel to find!!
I never had a cat but i want one and i looking into the bengals. I live in Costa Rica in a gated area but small house any advise?
I HAVE THE PRIVILAGE OF OWNING A BEAUTIFUL SNOW BENGAL HE HAS BLUE EYES AND HIS NAME IS BLITZEN AKA BIN LADDEN!HE IS AN ESCAPE ARTIST AND ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR AN OPEN DOOR OR WINDOW.THEY TALK SOME VERY STRANGE SOUNDS,AND ITS A BIT ANNOYING SOMETIMES.HE WALKS ON A HARNESS JUST LIKE MY DOG AND CERTAINLY WE TURN HEADS WHEN WE ARE OUT FOR A WALK.GETS ALONG WELL WITH ALL DOGS AND WILL KEEP THEM IN THERE PLACE.HE CAN BE SPITEFULL WHEN YOU TELL HIM TO GET OFF THE TABLE OR COUNTER.VERY ACTIVE WHEN AWAKE!NOT A BREED FOR EVERYONE FORSURE BUT I WOULDNOT GIVE HIM UP FOR ANYTHING.HES VERY SPECIAL AND CAN OPEN DOORS AND CUPBOARDS WITH EASE.TALENTED YOUNG FELINE AND VERY GORGEOUS!GLAD I CAN SHARE MY LIFE WITH THIS CAT EVEN THOUGH HES A HANDFULL!
I purchased my BENGAL HYBRID from a cattery. I love him and hes smart understands me when I say “NO” he sits etc. I have four kids a full-time job with some training you van teach bengals mostly anything you can teach a dog! Lion-o is part of my family I love him specially since he’s so intelligent I would not trade him for nothing. Hes active and does tend to open doors with ease but I wouldn’t have it any other way:-)
Well I have had cats in my life since I was a kid and I have never experienced anything like a Bengal. Willful to a fault, destructive when I do not pay attention to him and I have not had a solid nights sleep since we got him. He will even attack me. It’s very frustrating.
Yes he is cute, smart and his antics are funny but my house is always a mess now, I have to be careful of everything I leave around, he wants everything I eat and will not stop trying to get at it no matter how many times and different ways I try to train him.
I hope they mellow eventually because if anyone could have shown me a crystal ball, I would not have gotten one.
I hate to burst everyone’s bubble but if you adopted a “tabby” from a shelter and just googled images, your cat is probably NOT a Bengal, nor even a part-Bengal. Bengals have only been around since the 1970s. They were thousands of dollars to own and until about the 1990s could you even find them for around $800. The founder of the breed Jean Mill required every single kitten sold as a pet to be spayed and neutered. I have taken part in hundreds of cat round ups and backyard breeder shut downs and run blood tests on “half Bengals”. If you were to have a full DNA scan done on your kitten or cat, I’m willing to bet 91% will actually come up being part Ocicat or Egyptian Mau. Ocicats and Maus were used in the creation of Bengals, have very similar markings and a very similar personality, on top of that they have been around for hundreds of years making it way more likely that people bought them, let them get out and breed with domestics over the coarse of so many years. I’m not saying its not possible to end up with a mixed Bengal at all. I’m just saying in 19+ years of research on feline behavior and studies across America, whenever I see a shelter offering a “Bengal mix” based on its markings, I pay to have a DNA scan run. Nope. Not a Bengal!
I’m sorry to say Rainey, they do not mellow with age. Bengals are essential children. It is very important to do your research before owning one of these animals. They are highly intelligent but highly active and can be highly destructive. We also do not recommend any cat go outside due to a shortened life span and dangers of being outdoor, but Bengals have a high tendency to wander and a high prey drive. Your $900 purebred cat will eventually disappear.