Bengal cats

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NDA

Original Poster:

21,559 posts

225 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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I went to a pub today and there was a Bengal cat in the garden.... the friendliest and most vocal cat I've met.

But also very slightly scary - in that you wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of one! They are big and very 'big cat' looking.

I have cats and played with this particular one for a while.... he seemed to like being scratched quite firmly.

Anyone on here got one? Not sure I'd have one - it would be bringing dead dogs home.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,327 posts

150 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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Too expensive and too big a theft risk. Better off with a fleabag mog.

cv3hd

98 posts

104 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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My parents have one and he’s 7.

He’s demanding, loud, attacks other cats and dogs in the neighbourhood (used to lay waiting in bushes along pavements and pounce) and decided to start spraying in the house.

He’s actually quite affectionate to humans though. Nice looking cats but nearly as much effort as a dog.

Parsnip

3,122 posts

188 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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They are very playful and very sociable - ours will think nothing of jumping on strangers as soon as they sit down when she wants attention.

You don't really register that Bengals are loud until you hear "normal cats"

Last time at the vet I heard this really meek mewing noise and had no idea that's what a cat is supposed to sound like. I thought deafening yowls were the norm.

Our 3 wheeler Nismo (Nissan Motorsport when she is being a cowbag and getting a full name telling off) - named after my old 350Z - orange, noisy and no rear end grip:



Edited by Parsnip on Friday 12th October 13:58

LordHaveMurci

12,040 posts

169 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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We tried rehoming one from our local CPL centre a few years ago as he was absolutely stunning, had never seen one & knew nothing about them.

CPL advised us that we couldn't have him as he'd probably kill our other cat & have a good go at our dogs too yikes

Whoever got him was very lucky.


Zoon

6,689 posts

121 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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They have wild ancestry but shouldn't kill other cats or dogs for that matter unless there is something seriously wrong with them.

LordHaveMurci

12,040 posts

169 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
Zoon said:
They have wild ancestry but shouldn't kill other cats or dogs for that matter unless there is something seriously wrong with them.
A quick Google would suggest it's not uncommon for them to be aggressive.

Zoon

6,689 posts

121 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
Zoon said:
They have wild ancestry but shouldn't kill other cats or dogs for that matter unless there is something seriously wrong with them.
A quick Google would suggest it's not uncommon for them to be aggressive.
All cats are aggressive when it comes to territory, in my experience I have not noticed bengals be any more aggressive than a moggie.

pidsy

7,981 posts

157 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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Beautiful cats.

As mentioned, loud, strong willed and dog like in temperament.

A friend’s next door neighbour has one - it’s not popular at all along the street. It aggressively treats every garden on the road as his. Protects his land from other cats and dogs with loud and quite violent tendencies.

One of the neighbours half a dozen doors down had an aviary (long before the Bengal arrived). They still have an aviary but it doesn’t have any birds in it any more.
They are voracious hunters.

Fantastic fun though in the right environment.
Someone above mentioned the theft risk too - I’d be worried about letting one out.

ashleyman

6,977 posts

99 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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Friend of mine had one. Lovely cat but was pretty dangerous.

It respected him as the alpha but had zero respect for his wife. Cat would attack her even if it was unprovoked. It wrecked furniture and soft furnishings. We think the cat thought it was next in command or something.

In the end they had to get rid of it when they fell pregnant as they didn't want to risk having new born and cat. Such a shame but it did go to a nice home.

NDA

Original Poster:

21,559 posts

225 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
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Parsnip said:


Edited by Parsnip on Friday 12th October 13:58
Gorgeous cat. Their fur feels quite different too - at least the one I met did. Very sleek and silky.

GT03ROB

13,262 posts

221 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
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Have 3 cats..... a silver snow Bengal, ragdoll/Bengal cross & a fat moggie.

The Bengal is noisy, clever, very friendly. He thinks he is the boss: evicts the dog from it's basket; used to beat the dog up; hates the ragdoll/Bengal; likes the moggie sometimes; other times just whacks him. He doesn't destroy furniture & is unaggressive to humans.

There will be evenings when the other 2 cats are asleep in the lounge, it's a big lounge, the Bengal comes up & basically decides to just irritate the other 2. You just have to pick him up & throw him out.

LosingGrip

7,814 posts

159 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
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I'd love a Bengal cat. Got four rescue ones at the moment, so not a good idea currently.

TheJimi

24,950 posts

243 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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I've had cats all my life, and Bengals are on a whole different level. I have a silver Bengal, and I guess I must be pretty fortunate because she displays absolutely none of the negative traits described here smile

Oh and yes, the vocals are something else hehe

Properly strong cat though, and I often forget how big she is until I handle a "normal" cat.





Edited by TheJimi on Tuesday 23 October 23:26

wiffmaster

2,603 posts

198 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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Our two. They're big buggers and very vocal. They have a very strange habit of being fairly aloof when indoors, but the most affectionate cats we've ever owned when they're outside with you - to the point that you literally trip over them because they're rubbing against you and meowing for attention.



5'2" mother for scale (much younger in this photo and not fully grown...)


Gretchen

19,028 posts

216 months

Friday 26th October 2018
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Lebowski came from a rescue centre almost three years ago. I was told he’d been kept in a big country house where he protested at the butler and housekeeper by urinating on soft furnishings (hence his name change by us) and had tormented a six month old puppy to death and would stalk and kill other cats.

Whether any of the above had been verified I can’t say. But he is not the cat that was described to me. He’s clever. Bengals are. They need stimulation much like a dog. I can walk Lebowski on a harness, have taught him sit, speak, high five and kiss and has the best recall, better than of any dog I’ve ever owned. I e also caught him urinating over the toilet in the bathroom, keep meaning to invest in one of the toilet trainers.

He lives with three other cats and two dogs. I always describe him as having been misunderstood.

Lebowski has a catio to play in but is generally a house cat despite living in a small, quiet farming village. Not through fear of him embarking on a killing spree but he doesn’t seem to have a great amount of road sense and is quite striking looking being a silver glitter Bengal theft would be a concern as well as he himself being hunted. He’s loud.

The times he’s outside you can hear him from the end of the road. Neighbours have previously asked what he is. My boys think I’m deluded that he can say ‘Mum’ (but he can).

There have been quite a few pass through the rescue centre but I’ve so far managed to refrain from applying for one. I have my doubts as to whether I’d be considered as as have said I think they are misunderstood. Lebowski has thrived on company. He a my dogs, particularly my Border Collie, are thick as thieves.

Worst thing he does? He sleeps curled up on my bed at night and knows my alarm song. Once that plays he wants to be up and will find anyway to lovebite my my feet or hands until I get up. This also happens if said song plays on the TV/radio.

Bengals are not laid back lazy moggies. They need stimulation, activity and company. Wouldn’t part with mine and would happily have another.









AdamT

2,820 posts

252 months

Monday 5th November 2018
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Fantastic cats, more work than other breeds but you get a lot back.

Just to add that any “wild” blood that a typical Bengal will have is minuscule (<3%) and therefore aggressive nature/ large size/ territorial natures mentioned by some is not due to the Asian Leopard cat (which is the wild cat foundation). This cat is a small and very shy animal which would rather hide than be confrontational. Those traits have been introduced via other breeds.



Edited by AdamT on Monday 5th November 16:44

croyde

22,853 posts

230 months

Monday 5th November 2018
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I was seeing a girl in LA when we went to pick up her Bengal kitten from a breeder.

Very friendly and playful. Trouble was he'd watch us in bed and had a go at my family jewels.

Once he got bigger she had him properly trained to stop him destroying furniture and attacking her. He had to see her as the boss.

Now she takes him shopping on a lead like a dog. He seems to love it and the attention he gets.

He's also appeared in a few adverts on telly over there.

ipek

1 posts

23 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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cv3hd said:
My parents have one and he’s 7.

He’s demanding, loud, attacks other cats and dogs in the neighbourhood (used to lay waiting in bushes along pavements and pounce) and decided to start spraying in the house.

He’s actually quite affectionate to humans though. Nice looking cats but nearly as much effort as a dog.
yes, it is a really aggressive cat and it is very difficult to take care of, so it does not recommend families with children to adopt it.

https://www.domesticshorthaircat.com/black-bengal-... Is the information here up to date?

Gretchen

19,028 posts

216 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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Thread resurrection.

TheJimi said:
Absolute bks.
yes Lebowski constantly bites me to remind me how much he loves me.

Some years on after being told he can’t live with other cats (see above) here he is with some hand reared foster kittens following a grooming session.