Is this Bengal legit?

Ohhhh dont worry, I have done my research, I know Bengals are very active cats with tons of personality, and they love water I wouldnt mind having an active cat, I wouldnt want a completely lazy one thats for sure. But im more drawn to its exotic looks.

The kitten could be a bengal, you really need to see the pattern on his sides to be sure though.

He doesn't come with papers so officially he'll not be a bengal. I.e a pedigree cat is by defination a cat where you know all the ancestors the "pedigree" of the animal and without papers you have no idea.

Those two bengals on their site actually say they have papers. I wouldn't be hugely surprised if they do. That's what byb bred bengals often look like. They could be pedigree just bred from "bad" bengals.

I'm somewhat concerned by you brushing off the bengal temprament. Really you need to talk to other people with bengals and do research to get a better feel for just how active these cats can be. There are a good few people who get bengals because they're so pretty (and yeah they are stunning cats) but then can't cope with the temprament.

Active and intelligent sounds fun to have in a pet but it is a lot of work. I've told my friends about bengals and they all go yeah yeah my cat's active too then they come visit and think Nikita is completely insane (in a good way if they're cat people, in a bad way if they're not)

Bengals need to run around, climb things, jump and hunt. Some of them like water but not all. They also can be quite vocal, more vocal than people expect, with a different meow for every occasion.

I'm far from trying to put you off getting a bengal, you just need to be aware of what you're getting yourself into and make a lifetime commitment to your cat that you'll work with the cat whenever problems come up rather than give up.

I had a short bout of overgrooming with my girl. She licked a patch on her forearm raw and it got infected. I took her to the vet the same day I noticed it (it couldn't have been going on for long because I check her out and pet her lots). It turned out to be behavioural, basically she was bored and stressed from not getting enough outlet for her natural behaviours.

I was devasted because I'd already been making a big effort to keep her stimulated but it just hadn't been enough. I rearranged the furniture in my flat to suit her better. I now have atleast two or three paper boxes out in the living room at all times along with a cat tunnel and a big cat ladder in front of the main window. I need to rotate the boxes (I have more boxes stored away and then cycle through them so that she won't have the same old boxes all the time).

I have to play with her for atleast around 2 hours every day. Preferably half an hour before I get to work and then an hour and half in the evening. I'm also clicker training her to give her more to do and have her trained to a leash and harness and take her outside regularely.

I also changed how she's fed and now she gets all her dry food through treat balls that she needs to roll around to have the kibble fall out of.

I shared this story just to help you get an idea for how demanding these cats can be. Now I live alone and Nikita is an only cat so I have to go to these lengths to keep her happy but if you live with more people and have other cats it's probably easier because then you won't have to do everything yourself.

Siggav,

Thank-you for posting that reply. It really can't be emphasized enough that most Bengals are not laid back lap cats. They need much more stimulation than other breeds of cats.
The intelligence of these cats still amazes me after 10 years of breeding/ownership, and that brain of theirs needs plenty of daily exercise.

Thanks Nial,

I'm always a bit embarassed sharing Nikita's overgrooming story because it shouldn't have happened. I.e I should have made more effort so that she'd never started that.

However there is an important lesson there which is why I share it anyway. Basically it can't be emphasised enough how much stimulation these cats need. What I was doing before (over an hour of playtime every day, a cat tree, toys and plenty of non-play interaction) just wasn't enough.

Fortunately what I did to make things better for her worked and the overgrooming stopped and hasn't started again and she's got her lovely fur all over now with no bald patches. but I always have an eye out just in case it'd start happening again.

It may or may not be a true Bengal. Petfinder lables "look alikes" a LOT. I've seen some labeled as "Ocicat", "Rex", "Russian Blue" that are FAR from being the real thing.

They didn't show the sides of the kitten (like normal), so I feel that its not a Bengal. You might find the markings are of an ordinary brown mackeral or classic tabby rather then the markings of a Bengal. I've seen some Petfinder Bengals/Bengal mixes that looked closer to the breed then this kitten.

Besides they are adopting out way too soon; I'd question on how socialized the kitten really is. Domestic brown tabbys have black paw pads, so that's really not a good indication if its a Bengal or not.


As far as Bengal activity you don't want to own just ONE Bengal. Their activity level is so high, you need other cats to keep him/her company or you have to stay at home to keep them occupied. If you don't, they will get bored very easy - a bored kitty gets into tons of trouble!

Even with the Ocicats (which look wild but are 100% domesticated - no wild blood) have almost the same high activity level. When we are explaining the breed to people, we always caution them about the high level of activity and the fact you cannot have them as an only cat unless you stay at home. They need companionship of other cats or dogs to be happy.

So keep that in mind - if you are thinking you only will have one, I do NOT recommend you get a Bengal - you may be very surprised and frustrated with one Bengal.



Nial, question for you - would YOU adopt to someone that the Bengal would be an "only cat" - no other animals to help entertain them?

I live alone, work full time and Nikita is an only cat. I have fish as well but they don't really count.

It can work and I'm pretty certain I'm managing to keep her happy now but it's a huge commitment and a lot of work. A lot of my friends call me a crazy cat lady even though I only have one cat because I've had to rearrange my life (and my living space) around my cat. I don't mind because caring for Nikita makes me happy but really it would be much easier having two (that get along!)

It's too late for me now, Nikita's grown up into one of the territorial female cats that can't stand any other cats (she growls at and tries to attack her neighbours when she's in a cattery etc.) but really I would recommend getting two cats if possible at all. If that's not possible be prepared to change your lifestyle accordingly, permanently.

True, some cats are ok alone - you are lucky it worked for you. Didn't realize she was an "only cat"! Wonder if she'd accept a dog?

I got my first kitten four years ago and he has turned out to be an active cat though I don't think anywhere near the level of a Bengal. I too work full time and the kids are grown and on their own. After a few months I got a second kitten and it made a huge difference. He didn't start the overgrooming but he wasn't nearly as 'wired' when I came home from work as he was before. I would recommend that anyone getting a kitten that doesn't have any other animals to get two. It sounds like it would be hard to match a Bengals energy level but someone wouldn't necessarily have to get two pedigreed cats. They could get a rescue kitten. That would be kind of the best of both worlds, get the pedigreed kitten of your dreams and also rescue a shelter kitten.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Nial, question for you - would YOU adopt to someone that the Bengal would be an "only cat" - no other animals to help entertain them?

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That would be dependant on the living situation. I.E., is someone home all the time, or at a minimum is only away from home during regular working hours. 8 to 9 hours away from the home during the day, with a fixed work schedule that the cat can depend on.
Bengals are like most other cats, in that they sleep most of the day away. They're very active between dawn and 9am, then again between 6pm and 10pm.

In a case such as I stated above, I would be ok with a single bengal/only cat situation, as long as the new owner clearly understands that the cat needs lots of attention and playtime during it's active hours and needs to made to feel as if it is part of the family when his/her people are home.

I have also placed 2 retired queens in "one cat only" households, due to their extreme alpha cat tendencies. Sometimes you'll have a bengal (normally the girls) who like the company of people much more than the company of other cats. These cats of course need to be placed in single feline situations.

In most cases, 90 percent, a bengal kitten or cat will benefit from having at least one other feline playmate to live with. This needs to be a cat of nearly equal stamina and activity level. I.E., a bengal and a persian would not be a good fit.
A playmate will take a lot of the pressure off the owner to keep the bengal entertained, but they will still need to spend a few hours per day interacting with their cat.
Most of my clients have either purchased 2 or more bengals from me, or they have a multi-cat household. Many have started with one bengal and come back for another 2 to 3 months later, after discovering what I said about their energy level was not an exaggeration.

I'm just about finished putting together a video of some of our kittens and Gypsy (a 2 year old queen) playing with a laser light. It's 10 minutes long and a little insight of what can go on for hours and hours.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

True, some cats are ok alone - you are lucky it worked for you. Didn't realize she was an "only cat"! Wonder if she'd accept a dog?

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She might be ok with a dog, I don't know. I'm not in a situation now though where I have the financial resources or space to take on a dog (I don't like the little lapdog type dogs, as in I know they can make great pets but I just don't want one).

It has worked for me keeping Nikita as an only cat only with a lot of commitment and work on my half but it's working so that's all good. Actualujhhhhhhh78888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888°h

edit: hehehe she just jumped on the keyboard and finished typing and posting this post. I'll just leave it in since it amuses me hugely.

i dunno whether this baby is bengal but he is adorable look at his face!

I dont think i'll ever truely understand the extend of the word ACTIVE CAT unless I experience it. Are Bengals agressive? and do they chew up the furniture and destroy things? Like I said I have no problem with an active cat, but I wouldnt want it to lick all its fur off if I didnt dedicate all my time to it lol I suppose now that ive read all this it looks like a Bengal isnt the way to go, but I'm still reallyyyyy attracted to those exotic looks..hmmm

If you don't train a cat to use the scratching post, or learn to trim claws YES they can destroy things. And declawing is not the answer either. Declawed cats may stop using the litter pan and pee/poop elsewhere. Or they become fear biters or hide.

An active cat is one that plays and runs a lot. Is into what you are doing. Is not a cat that sits around all day or lays on the bed as a pretty decoration. They run, jump, climb. Nothing is safe - you might find them on the top of the fridge when you come home. They like high places.

You would need a good size scratching post with lots of shelves, tunnels, etc. build in.

If you compare breeds:

Low activity cats - persians, himalayans, British SH.

Medium activity cats - American SH, Maine Coons (tho some are active), Scottish folds, Selkirk rexes.

Active cats: Bengals, Abys, Siamese, Devon or Cornish Rexes, Oriental SH, and Ocicats are top of the list for the most active cats.

So my advice is to really study the breeds of cats, personalitys, activitiy level, grooming requirements and make up your mind what you can tolerate. In the end you might find a very nice kitten to fall in love with at your local shelter

First of all, I'm not a breeder, so I cannot contribute a lot to the discussion as to whether or not this is a real Bengal. However, I would guess not, under the circumstances.

However, you can definitely find Bengal rescues - I have two of them. Although the shelter I got them from listed them on Petfinders, I actually found them because she is a member of the Bengal Purebreed Rescue League. She is the "go to" person in the Seattle area when anyone has a Bengal to surrender. I the case of the two we got, apparently the original owner got them thinking that he could manage having them despite his allergies (some pople with mild allergies do well with them as they don't shed much), but it turned out he couldn't. So after spending over $1000 each on them, driving them to Seattle from LV and trying it for a few months, he gave them up. So we got the pair for $300. The shelter was not willing to give them to different homes; she required that they go together. Although they are not litter mates (they are related and about 6 weeks apart in age), they are best friends. We had decided that when it was time to get another cat, we would get two, so they could keep each other entertained, since our other cat is older and not a good playmate for a kitten.

And let me tell you - without each other, individually, they would go crazy. Or we would, trying to entertain them. We have long said that our other cat was a good "starter cat" and that the one who recently died of old age was a more "advanced" cat. Well, these two are way more "advanced" than she ever was! Definitely not cats for a feline neophite! But part of the reason that I wanted a Bengal was because of their active, crazy nature. And because they originally came from a very good breeder, they are well socialized, and love anyone who comes to our house. That's a nice bonus since many of our friends have never even met our other cat, who is much more timid.

Anyway, good luck with your search for teh perfect kitty!

Kristi

GoldenKitty pretty much explained it. It's not aggression at all, more a need for stimulation.

An active cat is a cat that needs to run, play, climb and be involved in most of the things that are going on. Jump on top of counters, doors, the fridge, bookshelves etc. If they don't get an outlet for their energy through "constructive" means, i.e something you control like when you play with them they'll find it through other ways. Attacking feet when they walk past, mad running around at night that'll keep you up, bored meowing and complaining. When they're very intelligent on top of that they'll figure out how to manipulate you. I.e they're not tired and want to play while you're watching tv so they'll sit on a table and start pushing things off one by one just to get a reaction and attention.

The only thing that "solves" that sort of behaviour is just to play with the cat and let them have the outlet they need for their energy. Also make sure your living space is suited to the cat with lots of things to explore and hide in and watch. It's not their fault they're such an active cat that needs lots of stimulation. It is easier if you have two because then they'll be able to play with each other and you're not the only way for them to get an outlet.

Just read my post through again, it sounds as if Nikita is a terror to live with but she's not as long as she gets her play time. It's just been occasionally when I've had something special come up and not been able to play enough with her and she's made me pay every single time whenever that has happened. I know that's completely my fault though so I don't get upset and just try harder at making sure she gets the stimulation she needs.

Well, id feel very bad if I got a Bengal and it wasent like I expected and I wasent able to pay attention to it as much as it needs....perhaps what im looking for is a Bengal MIX? Like I said im attracted to the look, but maybe a little less the personality...im not 100% sure yet, Ive got time to think on it though.

I don't post often in this section. But I just wanted to make a slight suggestion. I know you said you want a Bengal and I can understand that. But is it mainly the look of a wild type cat that you are looking for or is it the whole package? Because if it is really just a look then look around at different breeds that may be tamer in some regards but still has a wild look. Because even within a breed or even a mix individual looks can vary to a degree from wild in looks to domestic in looks.

When you are ready to get a cat maybe one way to find out if a Bengal is right for you would be to visit a reputable cattery and see for yourself what Bengals are like. Unfortunately because of the popularity of the breed now there are a lot of backyard breeders popping up. Just from the websites one way to tell if they are reputable is if they show their cats. Not all breeders have the time or money to go to a lot of shows but most reputable breeders do take cats to at least a few shows every year. Backyard breeders rarely if ever show their cats.

Maybe I'm a bit partial but if you're looking for a cat with a wild look and a calmer personality, maybe you should look at the Egyptian Mau? They're still active, intelligent cats, but nothing like what you would see in a Bengal.

I got my own Mau from this cattery in Virginia. Emau has had a lot of regional and national winners, her cats are just amazing.
http://www.emaucats.com/

And here is my Bailey boy:
http://umd.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3df&id=5724290

I got him for a little over $800, but it took me three years to finally bring him home! I started searching early, like you, and found the perfect cattery for what I wanted. Since there is often a waiting list for Maus, I put down a $100deposite to hold my boy. I was abroad for a while, so I had to keep delaying and delaying, but when I did bring Bailey home, he was exactly what I wanted.

I've seen some of the Maus from this cattery located in Florida and have always been impressed.
http://www.maullenium.com/home.htm

Could you get a mau? No idea of activity levels but they have a wild look...
I have a probable Bengal mix which is what you seem to be edging towards. Today, she spent about 3 hours wandering round my feet begging me to play with her.
She has an ugly miaow when she's bored and needy. We've been playing fetch throughout this time, and sometimes I grab a feather stick and run up and down the house for her and her brother to chase. He's an aby mix (same dad, different mum), and is less needy, but will go for your hands when he's bored.
I also set her little challenges- I'll hide a tape measure on something really tall, or a shelf I know she can't reach and she has to work out how to get to it.
She's really smart, if I hide something in front of her, then cover it so she has to remove something to get to it, she still knows its there. Also, if I put something on a high shelf, she can jump on the shelf below and work out where it must be, and reach up with a paw to get it, even though she can't see it anymore.
We have to shut them out of the bedrooms at night as they just don't settle, and are often active from 8-12 at night, minimum.
Its gotten to the point that I'm planning to build a kind of cat gym that we could set up while we're not around, that would attach to walls/ceilings etc and be movable for variety to give them a chance to get some proper exercise.
I adore bengals, but even I'm not sure I could cope with 2 purebreds.
Basically they're nuts, and they've gotten More nuts since we got them and they're about a year old now.