Bengal Cats, domesticated...?

Question

How much do they generally cost, and also is their temperament truly more like a dog than a cat? Is it better to get a male or female?

Answer 1

if u trane it and love it should  be a good cat

Answer 2

they are domesticated if you get one from the right breeder, and work with them like a dog as a kitten.

if not, they dont act very social or loving at all. they act more like a wild cat.

they are sure gorgeous.

you are looking at spending quite a it to have one, unless you have a bengal cat rescue close to you.

usually about $2,500 is what they go for here. YIKES!

I was at the pet store the other day, and a woman had one on a leash with her! it was so funny!

Answer 3

Bengal cats are expensive, so it is surprising that you can get a 'pre-owned' Bengal cat for free.   A friend of mine did this.  He got a large Bengal cat from a "bad cat's home" and set it loose in the grounds of his large guest house in the country.  Bengal cats are famous for 'not being particularly friendly', which is true, but it is a magnificent animal if a little antisocial.  It spends most of the day asleep on the sofa, then goes out around the woods, climbs up and down the trees, and kills something.  Now and again it brings back a 'treat' for my friend and his wife, and puts it on their bed as a gift.  Normally this is half of a rabbit that was too big for him to eat all of.    He also likes to sleep on my friends computer monitor and dangle off it  at the side.

Answer 4

Despite being a hybrid produced from Asian Leopard Cats and domestic cats, a Bengal from a reputable breeder is quite domesticated. With Bengals it is very important that they have been socialized properly when they were kittens (i.e before they were sold). Your breeder of choice should explain this to you, and it should be obvious that he/she keeps them in the house with him - not in a cage outside!

Also be careful about what filial generation you get - I'd recommend at least F4 (you need to know what this means). In particular do not get an F1, as they are really a specialist pet, best suited to someone who has experience with wild cats (not saying they are wild, just it's best if the to-be owner has had the experience!)

I think the charactorization of Bengals as 'doglike' is a little misleading, they have some traits in common with dogs - mine follow me around and want to 'help' me with everything, and are more involved with me than most other types of cat I've known - but they are still very catlike in nature, and not a dog in a cats body!  

Male or female - I've one of each... both are great, so really personal preference I think.

They are very high energy cats - and can be quite tough on furniture and toys (they destroy most cat toys in a day or so). They also play rough (with you), and it takes some work to stop them damaging skin on hands and legs! I almost despaired of ever being scratch free on my arms with my male kitten - but now he is 8 months old he has finally learned what 'gentle!' means when we play!

These are not cats to be left on their own while you work 16 hour days... if this describes you, I would recommend a different breed of cat.

On the cost front - think in terms of $800-$1000 for a kitten, or $100-$200 if you get a young adult ex-breeder (in any of US$ , A$ or NZ$). It is possible to pay a lot more (like $3000), but these are normally examples sold entire to other breeders for their breeding programs.

I recommend spending a bit of time researching Bengals on the web (see sources).

Answer 5

Bad idea unless you've trained an animal before or you've got someone with experience to help.

Answer 6

They are domesticatedcats, all of them, just some of them don't have good temperaments. Like, all the ones I've ever met, but I daresay a good breeder would only be breeding from cats with good temperaments.

Bengal cats are not bred from Bengal tigers! They are small domestic cats just like a persian or a siamese or any moggy.

Chalice

Answer 7

Hi there...Bengal cats "CAN" be great house pets, however there are some important things to note about their temperament and personalities. They prefer the company of other cats and most do get along with cats IF/WHEN the introductions are done correctly as this applies to ANY cats who meet for the first time. However, there are some who are the exception to this rule.  

Bengal cats typically sell upwards to $1000 or more.  

The average weight of a Bengal cat is 10-12 pounds for females and 15-18 pounds for males. 22 pounds is not common for a Bengal cat unless they are overweight which presents another host of health problems.

Bengals are a very hyperactive breed of cat well as extremely vocal and loud cats much more than Siamese cats. They are very demanding for attention and interested in everything their owners are doing. They certainly enjoy affection however only on their own terms as they rarely like being held or are lap cats. However, some are an exception to this rule. Ideally, they may not be a good fit for young children, because children want to cuddle and Bengals are far from being such a cat who likes to be restrained. If they are left alone for long periods of time it's best to have the company of another cat or dog, which is preferable or they can be quite mischevious as well as destructive as a result of loneliness and/or from boredom.

Please consider speaking with Bengal breeders before purchasing one because these cats are very demanding in general. Some important information about Bengals. They should never be declawed as it leads to overcompensation with vicious biting since they have larger canine teeth than a typical domestic cat as well inappropriately soiling (urinating/defecating) around the home. Something we have witnessed too frequently with the rescues we take in.

Bengals should never be allowed to roam freely outdoors as they are apt to be stolen and later sold sometimes for profit. However, they will take to leash training easily and it is the safest way to give them some of the outdoor enjoyment. In some regions the Bengal cat is outlawed as a pet so be sure to check with your local humane society in your region to learn if they are legal. Georgia, Hawaii and a few other states have banned Bengal cat ownership.

Many Bengals require a healthier diet of closer to raw as many suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)--loose stools syndrome. Royal Canin 27 is generally what Bengal breeders use to feed their cats since this is highly endorsed with The Int'l Cat Assoc (TICA). There are premium brands such as Innova EVO or Nature's Variety Prairie (see other diets listed below) that help easy the problem with IBS. Any of the cat foods that contains the ingredient corn, corn meal (e.g. Iams, Science Diet, Purina, Whiskas, etc) causes severe bowel distresses so it's best to choose cat food products that steer clear of these ingredients.

To learn more about Bengals consider joining the Bengal Chat forum: http://www.chat24.oli.us/hdw/ or http://www.bengalcatforums.com/forums/ .

As a rescuer we always let new Bengal families know if in event there's a time in the future you are unable to keep your bengal perhaps to allergies, medical illness in the family or moving overseas, etc all responsible Bengal breeders WILL take their cats back (no questions asked) as it is their ethical agreement with TICA in the sale of the kittens. There are also Bengal rescuers located all over the world and we are also willing to help with rehoming if necessary. We try to keep Bengals from ending up in the shelters as many euthanize them quickly believing they are a wild cat and not safe as a pet, when in fact they are domesticated since they are four or more generations removed from their wild relative the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC).

Diets for Bengals:

Their diet should consist of very high protein rather than the usual commercial cat food, which contains corn, corn meal and preservative fillers... for example those would be: IAMS, Science Diet, Purina, Whiskas and many others...essentially, anything from the grocery store and pet stores. The reason being is that Bengals commonly suffer from lifelong Irritable Bowel Syndrome so if you live in a large metropolitan city look for a specialty pet store that carries any of the following products to help minimize his bowel distresses:

Innova EVO and/or California Natural: http://www.naturapet.com/

Nature's Variety Praire: http://www.naturesvariety.com/

Wellness: http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssou...

Life's Abundance: http://www.healthypetnet.com/