Behaviour Problems With Bengals?
We are getting a 2 year old male Bengal next week, and we were wondering if there are any problems that we may encounter?
The cat will be left alone throughout the day due to work, and does not like other cats. He has been raised as an indoor cat, and we shall be keeping him that way.
Is there anything we can do to keep him out of mischief?
Any hybrid cat is highly energetic and will become bored easily. This includes The Bengal.
A good rule of thumb: If you work more than 8 hours a day, and/or if you vacation and/or travel often, a Bengal is NOT for you!
Bengals are both smart and clever, and if you’re not around to entertain them, they will entertain themselves. Some are more destructive than others, but Bengals are known to get into cupboards, knock objects off of desks, dressers, walls and shelves. They’ve also been known to claw furniture and curtains, chew papers, and play with anything that moves (or that they imagine to move!!).
There are ways to counteract this behavior by using sprays such as feliway to calm them. Also, it’s a good idea to have a scratching pad (or post), and a fair amount of sturdy toys. Bengals love to hunt, and they play HARD! They can make mince meat of feather toys before you can blink.
Other problems to look out for is IBS (diarrhea). Bengals are very prone to this disorder, so watch out for this. Anxiety can cause the disorder to become worse. (Bengals can become anxious if it’s left alone often for long hours!!!) It is incurable – however! – a well-balanced, high-protein diet can cause the symptoms to disappear. Therefore, if you find your Bengal has diarrhea outside the litterbox, do not punish him. Take him to the vet right away to be properly diagnosed… Some people have given up their Bengals because they could not control its IBS. My Bengal girl had it when we got her, but after playing with her diet, the problem has stopped.
Do you currently have a cat? Since it is already known that this Bengal does not like other cats, it would be a very, very bad idea to have other cats to share your home with (be it at present or in the future). It is possible that cats can be taught not to be aggressive toward other cats, but I wouldn’t bet on being able to change that behavior. It’s just a dangerous situation for pets and humans alike.
Some Bengals are known to nip. If your Bengal nips, start behavior correction immediately. First you’ll need to observe what it is that makes your Bengal want to nip. Are you petting him too long? Is he not in the mood to be touched? Are you initiating play with your hands? (“Hands are for petting, toys are for playing” is the rule!) If your Bengal nips you, stop giving your cat attention right away, make an angry face, and walk out of the room. Never hit. Believe me, he’ll get the hint.
If you have any questions, please feel free to write me. 
PS – Contrary to what “mis” says, not all Bengals love water. One of my Bengals doesn’t want anything to do with it, and the other will only play with water dripping from the faucet. She *hates* getting anything more than her paws wet!
Also, you should NEVER EVER let a Bengal outside!! Most breeders state it *very clearly* in a written contract that you are NOT allowed to let your Bengal out! It could be hit by a car, catch a disease such as FeLV, be “kidnapped” by someone who thinks your cat is cool looking, or worse yet – killed by someone who doesn’t know what a Bengal is and mistakes it for a wild animal! …Indoor cats are not only safer, they’re healthier and on average, live years longer! People anthropomorphize their pets and imagine them to be unhappy indoors.
Bengal Cat – Daniel a beautiful cat
