The Joys and Hazards of Living with a Bengal Cat
97
Beginning Note
Although there are lots of sites that just fawn over the Bengal breed there doesn't tend to be too many that describe just what life is like with these cats. In this article I hope to both educate the audience to basic Bengal facts and allow anyone to learn what a charming handful these sprightly balls of fur are.
What is a Bengal?
Bengals are a breed of cat that originated from cross breeding domestic cats with Asian Leopard Cats (a type of small wild cat.) The purpose of these breedings were to obtain a cat with the disposition of a domesticated cat but with the wild and crazy markings of the Asian Leopard Cat. These hybrids (called F1's to denote they were the first generation) were bred together through numerous generations with some more domestic lines occasionally finding themselves thrown in. The result was a stunningly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, and often quirky cat that could be kept in the household as a pet. Now Bengals are a recognized breed and can be shown at cat shows and sold legally in all 50 states.
Bengal Appearances
Bengal cats are a varied breed. They come in several colors, coat patterns, eye colors, and even their weight can vary greatly from individual to individual. Still they maintain a certain distinction in the cat world for being probably the bulkiest of the cat breeds in terms of pure muscle mass. The males in particular have thick enormous muscles that ripple underneath their shimmering coats.
Their most unique feature of course is their elegant coats. Most people think of spots when they think of a Bengal but they do also come in marbled and rosetted. Rosetting is what causes some individuals to have spots which look more like doughnuts then dots. Marbling is a form of horizontal striping, a fascinating variety of swishes and swirls on their sides and back. Swirls that look like cinnamon buns are actually a default if you're showing but they are still gorgeous.
Bengal colors include Brown (an orangey-brown with black spots or marbling), Snow (a cream colored body with dark tan spots or marbling), Silver (a startling metallic silver with black spots or marbling), and Melanistic (black with darker black spots or marbling.) Melanistic and colors like blue are occasionally seen but are not recognized by cat clubs. Blues are actually almost always (if not always) crosses.
Eye color can be anything from a deep copper gold, to a startling minty green, to brilliant yellow, to ice blue depending on the breeds used in their original ancestry and whether or not the breeders in it's lines have decided to concentrate on improving eye color or not.
Bengal Behavior
Bengals are probably the most intelligent cats I've come across, even occasionally outwitting the cunning Siamese. Because of their intense intelligence and wild ancestry they tend to have some pretty strange behavioral quirks. Asian Leopard Cats adore the water and so do the Bengals that descend from them. Almost every Bengal will have some sort of overriding obsession with water. They often drink by dipping their paw into the water bowl and licking it off rather then just drinking straight from the dish like a normal cat. They've also been known to play in water whenever they can, splashing water out of their bowl, interrupting their human while they're showering or bathing, and displaying almost a painful delight at playing with running fountains and faucets. One Bengal I had for awhile even learned how to drain a five gallon water cooler so she could watch the bubbles pop up in the jug. Imagine my surprise to find the room flooded! People with fish should also beware as some Bengals do enjoy pawing around the tank and catching goldfish.
Because of their wild heritage they aren't only phenomenal fishers but also efficient hunters. The only way to curb them from this particular tendency is to raise them from kittenhood very carefully with small animals constantly in their presence. This being said it's still advised only to train them with the strictest precautions as accidents are always capable of happening. They are animals after all. Owners of small animals should not allow them out with a Bengal present without supervision.
Bengals are a very active breed. Add their high IQ to this and you generally have a recipe for a trouble maker. No amount of toys will ever keep a Bengal happy. They'll always get bored one day and venture off to find something to get into. They're known for stealing random objects and running off with them, destroying anything they think is expensive or precious, and staring down the other animals just for giggles.
Bengals are a fiercely territorial breed, which means if you want to have more then one you should get at least a pair (or have other cats already living in the home) the first time around. Otherwise introductions can be hard. Because of this they do not generally like big changes in their environment and should always have a box, cat tree, or kennel that they can retreat to to hide when they feel stressed out. They should also be kept as house cats due to the dangers the outdoors present to them and the dangers they present to local wildlife.
This all being said Bengals are an affectionate breed if they're raised properly. They tend to love their humans and act rather dog-like playing games like fetch and following their owners around watching their every movement. Careful though, they are constantly learning and can pick up "tricks" from watching their humans like learning how to turn door knobs, turn on faucets, and flush the toilet repeatedly to watch the swirling water.
New owners should also note one of the Bengal's most adorable characteristics, a pathetic little kitten meow they never grow out of. They're a verbal breed and do love to meep, mew, and meow at their humans for any reason at all.
Bengal Anectdotes
So you still think you want a Bengal? They certainly are special. Once you go Bengal you tend never to go back. They're just that unique. However they are like having a wrecking ball with a warped sense of humor in your home. Now it's time you hear some of stories of my little furry rabble-rousers.
Sophra I got as soon as she was weaned but even before I brought her home she started to show her true colors. She was out running around the breeder's house getting some exercise when we suddenly heard a horrible thump. There Sophra was, a tiny little kitten, at the bottom of the stairs. She fell off the banister and hit the hardwood floor with her nose, not her feet. It broke. Since then her nose has always been dented.
Right after I brought her home she started manipulating me. She would only eat if I was standing there watching her and since I didn't want her to starve I caved for this cunning little game of hers. When she grew older I was starting to believe my house had a poltergeist. Random objects would disappear never to be seen again. Children's plush toys, bottles, hair ties, cough drops, hard candy, elastics, yarn, and anything that was light enough to lug off. Occasionally I'd find them stashed in bizarre places. My pet sitter once had a nasty surprise when she was staying over to take care of the animals. She pulled up the covers on the bed only to find that Sophra had plucked a pin cushion dry and spread pins and sewing needles all throughout the blankets and sheets. It's my personal belief that she did it to hear the pet sitter scream. She's funny like that.
Howl as a kitten and as an adult continuously gets trapped in garbage cans, empty small animal and bird cages, his cat carrier, and even closets, cupboards, and cabinets. Now he's bigger he can usually find his way out but when he was a kitten there was almost a daily rescue mission. Currently he likes draining his bowl while Sophra repeatedly flushes the toilet.
Once I was foolhardy enough to baby-sit for a small Bengal cattery. I brought the cats to my home and let them run around one room. They consisted of two tomcats who had to be separated from each other (as they did not grow up together and you know how tomcats usually are!) four adult females and two six month old kittens. These were cattery raised cats that did not know the comforts of a home and you could tell. They were wild! I may as well brought in a troupe of rabid badgers.
I let one of the males run around and stuffed the other one in a large cage so they wouldn't kill each other. Little was I to know that this angry 25 pound cat would find a way to break out of an impenetrable cage within hours of being put in it. I ran into the room when I heard the most horrendous screams that I have ever heard. It sounded like the screams were emanating from the bowels of Hell. There the two tomcats were beating the piss out of each other. Fur was flying everywhere and I knew these cats didn't like me when they were in a good mood. I couldn't just grab without one without myself being mortally wounded, so I reached for whatever was nearest to me, a broom, and started to beat them into separate corners. After that I was stuck with the problem of getting the giant male back in the cage.
This male was enormous. He was a pit bull in cat fur. His neck was so thick with muscles I couldn't grab his scruff (he had none!) though desperately I tried. This resulted in 25 pounds of writhing angry muscle dangling from my arm by the teeth. When he finally let go I had to pin him to the floor by sitting on him but this too failed and he ran off. I had to chase him with a broom to get him back into the cage. He escaped unscathed but I ended up with a nasty scar.
I thought that room was empty but every day I'd go in there and find something else broken on the floor. Bowls, unidentifiable glass objects (which I still haven't a clue where they came from) light bulbs, lamps, toys were all in the middle of the floor in shards. The cage the giant male was in was totalled in the time he was here. The curtains were turned into shreads and the only cat that actually liked me was also the same one who thought it'd be hilarious to drain the 5 gallon water cooler out onto the floor. After a month I was more then ready to send the hellions home! Never again will I take on caring for an adult cattery or cage raised Bengal!
Still I adore the two I have which were raised from kittens here. They keep me on my toes. Sophra can usually be seen darting full speed through the house with cough drops and hard candy dangling from her mouth. We haven't had candy dishes out for more then a year, likely two. She either has a stash somewhere or she's picked up magic. When she gets bored of that she likes to jump up on the furniture in the wee morning hours and push everything she can off like a little bulldozer. It doesn't matter If its paperwork or knickknacks, she'll still watch it fall with amazement. So what do you think? Are Bengals too much personality for you?
Tips on Keeping a Bengal
- If the Bengal is not going to be used for breeding purposes it should be fixed before it reaches sexual maturity. This should prevent them from marking their territory by spraying your home (once this behavior starts it's a hard habit to kick in both males and females.)
- Keep lots of cat toys out and put anything precious and destructable away!
- Keep the lid to the toilet down so they don't have an excuse to start flushing.
- Put their water dish on a Linolium or tile floor if possible to make for easier cleanup.
- Socialize the kitten early on with as many people as you possibly can to prevent the cat becoming a one-person cat (and believe me once they bond in this manner they're usually petrified of everyone else for no reason at all.)
- If you're going to have other pets make sure you get the cat used to them when it's still a kitten.
- Never expect a lap cat or perfectly behaved pet. They're going to start trouble sooner or later you just don't know how or when.
- If you want a weird hobby try agility training your Bengal - yes, there's tournaments for cat agility now and Bengals take the place of border collies as the most popular breed there.
- Please keep all cats, not just Bengals, inside at all times. It's a big bad world out there and everyone's better off in the house. if you want to bring them outside Bengals are easily harness trained.
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Fascinating and unique hub! Your pictures are simply fantastic, especially cat and bird friends and singing cat.
Great Hub. Is Oscar an amazon? Just trying to judge the size of your cat...nice pictures too.
regards Zsuzsy
No, Oscar is a dusky headed Conure. Sophra's very small for a Bengal... The males can get over 20 pounds sometimes of pure muscle. Females tend to be smaller, 8 pounds or so is probably average for them.
Wonderful photos! My cats LOVE playing with straws. We always pick up extras when we get fast food, so we can bring home "presents" for the cats.
Your post had me absolutely crying with laughter! Or maybe relief...I have 2 male silver Bengals, and it's so nice to know there are others who have the joy/pain of living with these wonderful monsters! I wouldn't trade them for the world, although I would like a night of solid sleep, without fear of something crashing on my head...
i know the joy/pain of owning wild cat mixes....i have a bobcat/domestic shorthair...she is a handful,but i wouldnt trade her for the world...also the pictures on this site were pretty cool..i think i might get one to add joy to my exotic life with exotic animals.
Wow!! nice hub, great pictures, ok,.... some part of me is sayin you should keep one just look at their magnificent fur..and the other part of me...no pls. your mom's vase is gonna be in trouble...,love your hub..i'm gonna show this to my dad,..:-D
hahaha!i enjoyed this immensely! I do not have a Bengal cat, I have 2 normal domestic short haired. Your story of the 2 bengals in your home sounds almost similar to whats its like trying to convince my small cat into the cage for a vet visit! Nicely Done - Love this hub!
Oh don't get me started on crating the little buggars and bringing them to the vet! I have to bring Howl in soon and I am dreading it. He needs a blood test but I am more than willing to bet he'll probably have to be anestatized to get it! He doesn't trust anyone but me and tweaks in a new situation or location... and has no scruff to hang onto. Oh that should be fun... ;) Thanks for the comment! This article and my The Evil Scheming of a Vicious Cockatoo (http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Evil-Scheming-of-a-Vic ) story has to be my favorite animal hubs to write and to share!
hi there. do you have to cage these cats?
No more so than a regular cat, Ebony. These guys are domesticated, they're just a lot smarter and little wilder looking. :) 'Course there are times when a cage can be used as a tool for any cat, as I have written about in one of my other articles (http://hubpages.com/hub/Caging-Cats-When-and-Why-i )but Bengals don't require them any more than a regular cat.
great stuff
Loved your description of the Bengels. We have George - all 18 lbs of him. He LOVES doing pushups on my husband's legs in the middle of the night (mine he leaves alone, of course I can sleep through anything and Bill can't). He also has a "thing" about getting up on the bar and trying to hang on the mirror. No matter how many times he gets in trouble about it he just keeps doing it. Are pressently trying time outs when he does it - but as you can tell - he keeps doing it. Our house looks like a pet store of toys, plus he adds things to his treasurers (we have to bring him back a present when we go away - he immediately checks the suitcase). He loves people - runs to the door to greet them. You are right on about the IQ - I just wish he would use it to quit doing the things that get him in trouble.
What a great hub! Absolutely love the stories!
I am adding a link to your hub on my blog about cats (A Cat's Tail - the 'Purr'fect Blog) on blogspot.com
Thanks for a great read!
How sad that you insist they should be kept in the house. Against all of theor natural desires. We have a Bengal and he cames and goes as he pleases. He loves nothing more than climbing trees and racing around chasing flies. I cant see the pleasure in keeping a Bengal if you are only going to keep it 'safe'
I loved reading your post. I have two male Bengals, one spotted and one marble. They are both wonderful babies. We just celebrated their first birthday. They are not as wild as your cats. The most annoying thing that Oliver does is cry during the night, which frustrates me. I am trying to find a way to get some sleep but it seems that punishing him does not work. Do you have any ideas?
Thanks! :O)
Erin, there is nothing you can do. They will howl their entire life. these cats are not cats, but rather half/breed wild animals. they are still so early in their breeds bloodlines that they have not worked out the charactersitics of a more wild animal. I have had many, and they are not for a new cat owner. Some of mine had to be put down, just couldn't deal with not sleeping. BTW, if you get bit by one you could be in for thousands of dollars of medical bills. My last bengal bite was by my beloved Max, three puncture wounds that neded stiches. Was Max's last bite.
Love, love this Cat!
This was a great read. I adopted a free kitten about a year ago now, and ended up with the most delightful cat I've ever met.
She is most certainly part Bengal, part silver Bengal to be more precise. I was pretty sure because of her markings, however, reading the personality traits and characteristics of the Bengals solidified my guess.
She is a treasure of a kitten. I named her Benny (before I knew she was a Bengal - in fact before I even brought a new cat home, I knew that was going to be her name)
Hi
I have a 6 month old female bengal who is getting spayed this week. She seems to urinate on the bed all the time so now i dont let her in the bedroom. I want her to learn not to so she can sleep with me and partner. Can anyone help and advise me if this is normal for bengals and how to train them not to urinate? p.s. it is only on the bed....
thanks
This is a great hub. While I don't have Bengals, my kitten exhibits many of the traits you mentioned. I LOL at the antics you described. To know a cat is to love one.
i really want to know is bengal cats good with babies and i would to have 3 reasons why and yes you should have a bengal cat !!!!
Just Put a deposit on a kitten and loving it...I'll c here on Mother's Day. What a gift. Her name is Rahza, she is a brown spotted and her mother is stunning.
I have been owned and loved by a few Bengals in my day! My first was a little Brown Spotted darling named Takarra. She was as wild as wild could be. Her first day home at just over 7 weeks, she stole my husband's dinner, a chunk of roast bigger than her! Josh tried taking it back and darn near lost a finger! She growled over food and would help herself to what she wanted. At 7 months old, she passed away. We have no proof, but we believe the catfood recall of 2007 was the cause of her death since she had eaten one of the brands recalled since we had gotten her. She dies 3 weeks before the recall. Heartbroken, we turned back to our breeder, who by then was a good trusted friend. She responded by sending her pregnant brown marble, Targa home with us. We got to raise a litter and take our pick. Josh fell in love with a silver marble who we named Kianna while the runt of the litter, a brown marble boy named Kaidyn stole my heart. Because he was sickly at birth, he was totally bottle fed and raised. He was so cute about it that we bottle fed until he was 6 months old! Kaidyn was harness trained and even rode in his own baby stroller! He went everywhere with me and became very well known around town. he even did Halloween pet costume shows and beat out all the dogs one year to win the contest at the dog shelter! Kianna was never happy in a home with other cats and after her first birthday, I placed her with a friend of mine whom she adored! She is happy and healthy and has even adjusted to other cats with time. Kaidyn passed away last year on Christmas day from HCM. He is dearly missed and thought of every day. Kimiko is my first Snow Bengal, a Snow Mink, we call her the Princess and she demands being treated as such! She never harness trained and doesn't like leaving her house at all. She does give kisses though and loves both her Siamese cats! She will yell at you for no reason other than to say, look at me! I'm cute! The one thing she hates though is our other Bengal cat, Mayayna, a brown spotted kitten. Mayayna is Bengal in every sense of the word! She loves water and she can open doors as well as turn on light switches. She also has the food aggression and will steal it as you go to take a bite! Bengals are the best cats and I love each and every Bengal I have ever met!
After Kaidyn's passing, we found out I am pregnant. I found this out exactly 2 months to the day he left us. Both my husband and I agree that the baby is a gift from our beloved boy! We are due Oct 23rd, right before Kaidyn's favorite time of year. We believe that Kaidyn didn't want us to be lonely and that he wanted something to fill the new baby stroller that we gave him for Christmas morning. We are having a girl and have decided we will honor Kaidyn in her name. She will be named Savannah Rayne. Savannah for another breed of cat we both dearly love and Rayne in honor of Kaidyn's sister's middle name.
Bengals are wonderful. I have one that swims in the bath, & i certainly am not allowed to ever have a shower without him. He also stalks toddlers & large dogs down the street reguarly. [And he's dead serious about it!]So serious that one lady picked up her dog & ran....
It always concerns me that some people get bengals without realizing how high maintenance they are though. They're so smart & so social that if you leave them alone all day in a house they'll go nuts. Life would be very traumatic if i didn't let mine outside at the crack of dawn each day. They are not designed to be inside cats
We have 3 Bengals all brown spotted, here in the UK Bengals are still on the dangerous animal list therefore we cannot let them out. We have converted the garden and the house with two huge cages with trees and waterfalls in them, they love this and the one off the patio includes sleeping bags and pots that they curl up in and they just love our two german shepherds and our new arrival white oriental cat called Holly !!
I enjoyed this article! I also learned a lot from it :)! Voted up!
I have ruru. A new Zealand Bengal. She is six months old lives with 2 bichons. Runs the house and the property. We live in the bush with lots if native birds. Hoping she won't go on a killing spree. Love her to bits. Bengals rock
Thoroughly enjoyed the article. So incredibly accurate: like Like a great film, I laughed, I cried, I cheered. We have Enzo, our adopted 6-year old, 17-lb amber furry ball o' love/terror. The first moment he came home, he was affectionately referred to as our Little Mike Tyson: all muscle, agile, active, definitely high maintenance, loving but definitely on his terms, EXTREMELY territorial, maddening, quirky, incredibly smart, so loud, and frankly, a little smarty pants(said with love, of course). Now, after a year together, we're convinced he is a lifetime member of the terrible two's club disguised as a Pit Bull in a Bengal Outfit. We've "adjusted" to each other, but we tend to make most of the consessions in his favor. We love him so much, we can't imagine life without him. But he is definitely a handful and like living on a roller-coaster, not for the faint of heart.
Thoroughly enjoyed the article. So incredibly accurate: similar to watching a great film, I laughed, I cried, I cheered. We have Enzo, our adopted 6-year old, 17-lb amber furry ball o' love/terror. The first moment he came home, he was affectionately referred to as our Little Mike Tyson: all muscle, agile, active, definitely high maintenance, loving - but on his terms, EXTREMELY territorial, maddening, quirky, incredibly smart, so loud, and frankly, a little smarty pants(said with love, of course). Now, after a year together, we're convinced he is a lifetime member of the Terrible Two's Club disguised as a Pit Bull in a Bengal Outfit. We've "adjusted" to each other, but we tend to make most of the concessions in his favor. We love him so much, we can't imagine life without him. But he is definitely a handful, and like living on a roller-coaster, being loved by a Bengal is not for the faint of heart.
I have a 9 month old F2 Bengal boy and he is all that you describe, purrs like a choo choo train even louder when you talk to home or pet him. Follows me everywhere, cries when I leave and is at the door when I get home. I think the most amazing thing he has done is jump from the floor to the top edge of an open door and walk around like he is on a tight rope.. He talks a lot and will only eat raw chicken, he loves it and everything else gives him diarrhea. At nine months he weighs 12 lbs, is 12inches high at the shoulder and 16 inches long from shoulder to base of his tail which is very thick. His papers say he is brown spotted but he has much contrast with a silvery brown background and milk chocolate spots. H has all the wild type characteristics to his appearance and I wish I had more just like him. I have a female Siamese that is his buddy, a Siamese/Bengal mix female and an American Tabby mix female all spade. I plan to get my boy neutered in the next couple of weeks. I used to honk Siamese was the martest breed until I got this Bengal and thy definitely are smarter than Siamese and much more active. They re fantastic pets and companions but hey re not the usual cat, you definitely have to love them more than your belongings.
i really enjoyed reading about your bengals! i have one and i swear he is my best friend some days! he is brillant! i came across a marble bengal at a shelter today that they had for adoption for only 60 dollars. i don't think they realized what they have on their hands. i was absolutely taken back by this little guy and felt horrible for leaving him behind. i came home only to sit and wonder how my six year old bengal would do with a year and a half year old. lets face it, the young one would be a snack for my 12 pounder. it breaks my heart and i am so tempted to at least try and see how the introduction would go, but i am worried i will end up with some battle wounds, and worse, i would have one less cat on my hands. my bengal actually got a pit bull puppy by the neck and refused to let go at a rather young age. i turned to your article for some advice, and after reading i think i have come to the conclusion that it would be a bad idea. it is so nice to see what other people have to say about these gorgeous pets! i love mine! i will never own anything but a bengal!
Our three Bengal kittens be playing around the house, chasing each other and jumping over the back of the sofa, and in their inertia would be shooting like little furry cannon balls against the window. I was ever so afraid that they would one day go straight out of the first floor window and land outside. But they clung to the window grille with their tiny claws and dangled, making us laugh with relief. Very informative and yet personal Hub. Enjoyed reading it.
Great hub, I love all cats. I've never seen a service cat, but I live in the Tacoma area and maybe I'll bump into Patty and her service cat!
I just adopted an F6 2 yr old male Bengal, He spends the majority of his time under our bed. Only coming out at night and then likes to get on the bed and watch cartoons with us! He has been eating so long as I put his food under the bed. He seems very fearful of just about everything! Will he get better eventually and be one of the fam?
"BTW, if you get bit by one you could be in for thousands of dollars of medical bills,"
Sure, if you don't have health insurance, or if you don't take care of it right away.
I was recently bit by a friend's cat, who clamped her jaws onto my wrist. It was the singular most painful experience, worse than breaking my arm. In less than an hour, my wrist was completely swollen, and I had to enlist the help of said friend to cart me off to the hospital.
It took two solid weeks before I was able to bend my wrist without pain. Imagine the looks of surprise on people's faces when I explained that my arm was not actually broken, but rather that I had suffered from a gnarly cat bite.
Cat mouths are festering cesspools of nastyness, & deep puncture wounds are no joke. W/ kaiser insurance, I paid my usual co-op fees for two visits + shots + generic antibiotics. A whopping $80... of course, it depends on your provider+plan... but far from 'thousands of dollars.'
I have two beautiful bengals, India and Sati. Liked hearing about your kitties but couldn't disagree more about forcing your cats to live indoors. Our cats live for their time in the forests and fields. They climb everything. They catch bugs and small fish in the stream behind the house. They roam all over the mountain. I would rather they live shorter, but more fulfilled lives than be cloistered away, never able to feel the wind ruffling their fur, never able to stalk prey, never allowed to melt away into a dappled wood to spend quiet time in nature. I hope you don't take any offense, but I would never want my little wildcats to live a life of sheltered domesticity. I can also tell you that during the winter months when it is too cold for them to spend time outdoors, they become much more destructive and fight more often. They are just so much healthier and happier, physically and mentally, when they have a natural and mentally stimulating outlet for their energy. I think a lot of the behavioral issues people have with bengals stem from them being cooped up indoors where they end up causing trouble to alleviate their boredom. Added bonus, we no longer have to fence our gardens since they have become incredible little hunters. I will agree with one thing you said - we will always have hybrid cats from now on, they are amazing and beautiful companions.
Sushi Bengal Adoption: Previously owned Bengals are a completely different thing. They are peculiar animals. I must say though if he climbs on your bed to watch cartoons with you there is hope he'll eventually start to feel safer in his environment and more amiable towards you. I have met a lot of these cats though that will never readjust, they end up holy terrors and bad biters. That's why I stress people really know what they're getting into when they take one of these guys home because it will be a lifelong commitment.
To all those who feel keeping cats indoor is cruel: Please understand it's not just for the cat's safety it for everything within claw's reach. Bengals can be ferocious hunters and there's certain bird species that are being completely devastated by feral and outdoor cats. Also the possibility of your cat picking up a disease from another cat he encounters is MUCH greater when he's allowed outside and at least here in the United States more cats are killed by cars and wildlife than anything else. In fact the average age of death for an outdoor cat is a pitiful 2 years, compared to house cats who live well into their teens and beyond. Personally I am building a large outdoor pen for my beasties. It keeps them away from most dangers and allows them to play in the grass and feel the sunshine. That being said any animal which is raised 100% inside will not know what it's missing. Right now I am guessing Howl is going to be scared to death of the new pen as he's never been outside and tends to act this way in new environments. Sophra I am sad to say passed away and so this is really for my other kitties enjoyment but I'll probably make a hub on it one of these days.
I have a Bengal Cat and I was just wondering, do Bengals have different feet to other Cats? Her feet look like hands.
Your Bengal might have "double paws," (more correctly called polydactl) which just means he has more toes than is normal. It's a common trait in Maine Coons and ferals and because Bengals are from a whole mess of other breeds they sometimes have things like this pop up. Sometimes double pawed cats look like they have mittens or baseball mitts for front feet and I knew a Siamese once that had ten toes on each back foot, which is extreme and very unusual, not to mention very bizarre looking! Hemingway had a bunch of these double pawed cats, that's why any cat which displays this feature is sometimes called a Hemingway Cat. :) And if your cat isn't double pawed then I don't really know what to say. Bengals feet generally look pretty normal...
Thank you for your reply, I really don't know if this is what they are, but they certainly don't look like any Cats feet I've ever seen before.
ME AND MY AND MY PARTNER HAVE A HALF BENGAL AND WHAT A HANDFULL HE HIS
I have 2 Bengal female kittens, 1 spotted & 1 marble. They are a total handful and very clingy. The one is very boisterous and the other just follows us everywhere and YELLS at us to be carried. Bengals are very demanding I have descovered but also very loving.....
PATTY BERRY 4 years ago
I HAVE A BENGAL CAT AS MY SERVICE ANIMAL SHE MY HEARING CAT I CLICKER TRAINED HER. I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE WORKER AT TARGET IN TACOMA WA, THAT YOU CAN SPECIAL ORDER SERVICE CATS PATCHES FROM PUP'PAREL ON-LINE I'M GOING TO ORDER THREE PATCHES TWO FOR HER SIDE OF VEST AND ONE ON TOP THAT WELL TELL PEOPLE NOT TO PET HER THAT WILL GO ON TOP OF HER VEST I'M GOING TO GET A ORANGE VEST LEASH, COLLAR AND HARNESS. I KNOW HEARING DOGS WEAR THIS COLOR WHY NOT A HEARING CAT! PLEASE CLICKER TRAIN THEM JUST LIKE YOU WOULD A HEARING DOG. TRAIN THE HEARING CAT TO WHAT YOU NEED. PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE ADA AMERICIAN WITH DISABLITY ACT OUT ON-LINE THE LAWS OF A SERVICE CAT THEY EVEN HAVE A PHONE NUMBER YOU CAN CALL TO ASK THEM ABOUT A SERVICE CAT. THE LAW STATES NOW ANY ANIMAL THAT IS TRAINED TO HELP A PERSON THAT HAS A DISABLITY CAN GO OUT IN PUBLIC BY LAW. BUT SERVICE CATS MUST BE ON A HARNESS AT ALL TIMES. GOOD LUCK IN HAVING A SERVICE CAT. PLEASE TRY A CAT BEFORE YOU GET A DOG FOR A SERVICE ANIMAL.