Question for Bengal owners.

u8myufo

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I am toying witth the idea of getting one and would like a few tips.Are they compatible with other cats? Diet needs etc etc or can they be loved and treated like our other two. What to look out for when buying one. Oh! and important question can they be let outside as I dont believe in keeping a cat totaly indoors or stuck in an outside cage. Any advise would be great thanks


Doh!! Yeh I know Ive posted this on the wrong forum, Help Mods can you shift it for me please?
 

mschauer

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I have 1 bengal and 3 moggies. They all get along fine. Bengals are high energy so it is best if they are paired with another high energy playmate. 2 bengal kittens would be ideal.

I don't know of any reason why bengals should be restricted from going outside more than any other breed except possibly they might be more likely to be stolen because of their exotic looks. I urge you to consider carefully whether the area where you live is safe for cats to wonder freely. I assure you it is *much* more cruel to let your cat be smashed by a car than it is to keep it inside.

They require no special care, they are just like any other high energy breed.

Others may mention that bengals have "sensitive stomachs". Coco (my bengal) requires a dietary supplement to prevent loose stools. From what I have read this doesn't seem to
be only a bengal problem by any means.

Hope this helps!
 

snosrap5

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I have Bengals mixed with my moggies and they get along great. They are a high energy pet. If you are looking for a sweet, innocent, quiet, relaxed, lap cat than a Bengal isn't for you.

My boys are into everything and anything. They love attention but they aren't lap cats. Magnum greets me at the door every afternoon for rubs, scritches and of course food. Takoda is one step ahead of Magnum by just waiting for me at the feeding station.

The sensitive stomach needs to be taken seriously. I have to watch adding any new flavors of wet cat food or the boys have tummy problems.

I do not let my Bengals out for two reasons. ONE I signed a contract they would never be allowed outside and two Bengals are just too curious and adventurous for me to just let them outside unsupervised. They would be gone in a heartbeat. Most breeders will not sale you one of their cats knowing you plan to let it outside. But that is just my opinion.
 

mschauer

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Originally Posted by snosrap5

The sensitive stomach needs to be taken seriously. I have to watch adding any new flavors of wet cat food or the boys have tummy problems.
Is that what they mean by bengals having "sensitive stomachs"? That you have to be careful introducing new foods? And do you mean they throw up or what?? I've never been able to get anyone to explain precisely what they mean by "sensitive stomachs". If it is what it sounds like you are saying then that isn't Coco's problem. She has loose stools no matter how long she has been eating something.
 

gingersmom

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Originally Posted by mschauer

Is that what they mean by bengals having "sensitive stomachs"? That you have to be careful introducing new foods? And do you mean they throw up or what?? I've never been able to get anyone to explain precisely what they mean by "sensitive stomachs". If it is what it sounds like you are saying then that isn't Coco's problem. She has loose stools no matter how long she has been eating something.
Meaning they have trouble digesting food sometimes. Their intestines don't/can't absorb the nutrients properly leading to loose stools.

Both my Bengals had loose stools when first brought into my home, even though they were being fed the same as at the breeders, just had another dry food mixed in. ANY change in their diet can lead to loose stools.

Long term loose stool, if not treated, can cause seriously poor nutrition in a cat, as their body is ridding themselves of food waste before they have had a chance to pull out the nutrients they need.

Time worked for Penny. Eagle Pack Holistic is working for Max, as he insists on eating Ferris' Meow Mix dinner, so now I have to feed Max the same as Ferris gets.


I also would never let a cat out of the house. That's my preference.

My mother has two indoor/outdoor cats, and her previous indoor/outdoor cat lived 17 years before passing from kidney failure.

So I can't judge, really, but I think they are safer and healthier when kept indoor only. But I would never ever let an expensive purebred outdoors, just too much to risk. Just like I wouldn't let a 4 year old skin child go play in the street.
 

snosrap5

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I guess to me "sensitive stomach" means loose stools. Takoda and Magnum have never had vomiting problems. Their problems tend to happen when I introduce a new variety of wet food. I have a digestive herbal aid that I now add whenever I try a new flavor which helps tremendously. So I don't really have any issues now.

For example. I feed Nutro Max wet venison, veal, and chicken regularly. If DH does my shopping for me one day and picks up Sheba instead of Nutro, he loves picking up Sheba. "Looks like real food" he says.
It doesn't help that all of the cats go crazy for Sheba either.

Adding that can of food to Takoda or Magnum's diet will cause them to have a diarrhea if I don't mix it with Nutro and add the digestive aid. Even if I buy a different bag of dry from Nutro Max will cause the same thing. Took me a while to figure out what was causing the sensitive tummies.

I'm at work or I would tell you the name of the digestive aid I use. When I get home I will find out the brand. Someone recommended it here on TCS over in the health forum. It works great for my boys.
 

mschauer

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Originally Posted by snosrap5

I guess to me "sensitive stomach" means loose stools. Takoda and Magnum have never had vomiting problems. Their problems tend to happen when I introduce a new variety of wet food. I have a digestive herbal aid that I now add whenever I try a new flavor which helps tremendously. So I don't really have any issues now.
True or False
:

They don't have a problem even without the digestive aid as long as you stick to specific foods.

Unless you add a digestive aid they have a problem no matter what you feed them.

They have a problem if you feed them something different from what you normally feed unless you add the digestive aid to the new food.

They have a problem if you feed them something different from what you normally feed unless you add the digestive aid to the new food but you only have to add the digestive aid for X amount of time until they get used to the new food.

Why some cats have loose stools/diarrhea is an interest of mine.
 

snosrap5

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True or False
:

They don't have a problem even without the digestive aid as long as you stick to specific foods. true

Unless you add a digestive aid they have a problem no matter what you feed them. false

They have a problem if you feed them something different from what you normally feed unless you add the digestive aid to the new food.
True- but I mix nutro and the new food as well.

They have a problem if you feed them something different from what you normally feed unless you add the digestive aid to the new food but you only have to add the digestive aid for X amount of time until they get used to the new food.
I'm not sure how to answer this one. I don't normally feed them anything but Nutro. On those rare occasions DH picks up Sheba it's not enough to last very long for them to get use to it.

I suppose if I fed Sheba on a regular bases than they would adjust to it but if I ever went back to Nutro, I would have to get them use to Nutro again by mixing in the digestive aid. Sheba to me is like a treat. It's ok on occasion but not everyday.

I try to give the cats a variety of different flavors of Nutro and if it's something they have never tried I will add the Eagle Pack aid, just to make sure everything comes out like it should.

Why some cats have loose stools/diarrhea is an interest of mine.
 

hopehacker

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I have 2 Bengal's and neither one of them have had digestive problems. My Siamese girl has digestive problems in that she eats dry food without chewing it and then she throws it up.
 

mschauer

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Thanks for the response!

Originally Posted by snosrap5

True or False
:

They don't have a problem even without the digestive aid as long as you stick to specific foods. true
Are all Nutro products OK or just specific products?

I try to give the cats a variety of different flavors of Nutro and if it's something they have never tried I will add the Eagle Pack aid, just to make sure everything comes out like it should.
Is that Eagle Pack Holistic Transition or Holistic Solution? I use the HS. I've never found a food Coco can eat without having loose stools unless I add the HS but Nutro is one she turned up her nose at. I might try it again if it means need won't need the HS.

u8myufo - Sorry for hijacking you thread.
I hope you're finding this at least a little interesting.
 

ferriscat

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Originally Posted by HopeHacker

I have 2 Bengal's and neither one of them have had digestive problems. My Siamese girl has digestive problems in that she eats dry food without chewing it and then she throws it up.
I've heard this is a Meezer thing. Doesn't Royal Canin make a cat food for Siamese cats that addresses this very problem? The shape is supposed to be more difficult to swallow whole or something.
 

snosrap5

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Originally Posted by mschauer

Thanks for the response!



Are all Nutro products OK or just specific products?
Your welcome.

That question would be better answered by Jennifer (Sharky) than me. I just know what works for my crew. I know that Nutro has just come out with a new flavor of dry Lobster I think and I can say that it was really upsetting Takoda and Magnum's tummy. So I gave it to my mothers cat.

I very rarely make any changes anymore to their diet. They are doing wonderful on Nutro and for me that is everything.

Originally Posted by mschauer

Is that Eagle Pack Holistic Transition or Holistic Solution? I use the HS. I've never found a food Coco can eat without having loose stools unless I add the HS but Nutro is one she turned up her nose at. I might try it again if it means need won't need the HS.

u8myufo - Sorry for hijacking you thread.
I hope you're finding this at least a little interesting.
I use the Holistic Solution.

Right now I have 5 flavors of wet that I use. It normally takes me almost a month to include a new flavor. That doesn't mean it takes the boys that long to get use to a new food. It just means I want to make sure there isn't ever an issue.

Savory hunter's stew and venison
savory hunter's stew and duck
veal pate'
chicken cacciatore
beef and egg skillet

I also free feed dry roasted chicken.

I just want to point out that this may not be the very best food on the market but it works for ALL of my cats. I don't advocate to anyone they need to feed what I feed or even claim to be an expert. I am only experienced in what works for my babies.

I also want to apologize for hijacking this thread.
 

siggav

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I've also had loose stool/diarrhea problems with Nikita.

She normally has firm stools now without a supplement but if I change her diet at all she'll get loose stools. I've never given her a herbal supplement.

The worst happened a few weeks ago. She choked on a piece of dry food and the vet told me to feed her only wet food for a few days. Her dry is Royal Canin.

She normally gets one pouch a day of Felix "As Good as it Looks" cat food (it's not 100% brilliant but it's not bad). To make her eat all wet I had to give her around 4 pouches. Doing that even though it was the same food she's been eating for months really upset her stomach and she had completely liquid explosive diarrhea (in my bed no less, yuck!), I immediately switched her back onto her normal routine and she's been fine ever since.

As for the OP, Bengals are often let outside here in the UK, they are at a higher risk of being stolen since they are *so* pretty and usually very curious and social. It's probably a bit easier keeping them then in a way since they can get rid of some of their energy outside rather than all in the house BUT there are several cases of Bengals being very territorial outside. Even to the extent of going inside other peoples houses to beat up cats there. They are very muscular and strong and can be intimidating for other cats. I've been monitoring Bengal rescues here in the UK and one of the common reasons for rehoming that shows up is just that. Then they want a home with a secure enclosed fenced off garden or a house in the middle of nowhere with NO other cats around. This problem can happen with moggies as well but seems to happen more often with Bengals and Burmese for some reason. I don't know if that's a breed specific thing or maybe just one or two UK Bengal breeders have a strain of too territorial cats. I don't know.

As for breeders, I can highly recommend Nikita's breeder. The kittens are raised in her kitchen, underfoot and used to family life and really well socialised. I'll pm you her details if you want. She's located a bit north of Aberdeen so it's a bit of a trip if you go to her for a kitten but she is really good and really cares for her cats so if you have trouble finding a breeder it's definately worth driving up to fetch the cat that will then be with you for many many years.

Bengals are *very* high energy cats and they will be into everything, jump up, get into, play and play, run around some more, figure out what really annoys the human so they can get more attention etc. A bengal kitten will most likely exhaust and irritate your current cats so getting two kittens that can keep up with one another might be better but still it might work just fine getting one, as long as you can spend several hours a day playing with the kitten. My Nikita is an only cat and it was pretty overwhelming being her exclusive play-partner. I had to cut down on all my hobbies and spend hours playing with her. She's almost 2 years old now and has slowed down a little bit (not a lot though) so I'm ok playing around 1.5 hours a day with her now, althoug she's always up for more, and to be honest, we're dealing with a mouse infestation atm which she loves and has taken a bit of pressure off me since she's busy hunting and stalking for part of the day.

They're usually not lapcats and don't seek out petting and cuddles as aggressively as some other cats. I mean for example Nikita is right now asleep between my legs as I'm lounging in the sofa and she likes being petted but it's very much on her terms and she doesn't seek it out as much as some other cats I've met. She does seek me out for play all the time and wants to explore and be a part of everything I do or that's going on so it's not that she's not social, she is and she's pretty much always in the same room as me.
 

mschauer

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Originally Posted by snosrap5

Your welcome.

That question would be better answered by Jennifer (Sharky) than me. I just know what works for my crew. I know that Nutro has just come out with a new flavor of dry Lobster I think and I can say that it was really upsetting Takoda and Magnum's tummy. So I gave it to my mothers cat.
I was asking about your personal experience which is how you responded. Thanks again!
 

snosrap5

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Originally Posted by mschauer

I was asking about your personal experience which is how you responded. Thanks again!
You're welcome
You made me realize just how long it's been since they've had any issues.
So Thank you as well.
 

epona

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Originally Posted by FerrisCat

I've heard this is a Meezer thing. Doesn't Royal Canin make a cat food for Siamese cats that addresses this very problem? The shape is supposed to be more difficult to swallow whole or something.
I think it has a lot to do with the long muzzle, they can get an awful lot of food in there at one go - Sonic my OSH is the same, a real guzzler, doesn't bite it at all unless the pieces are big, and sometimes eats way too fast with fairly dire consequences!
 

whiskers151

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I had a question about bengals and figured I add it to this thread rather than create a new one.

I know all the basics about the breed but I was wondering if my overall situation would be good for a bengal, especially if I got a younger one. I currently have 2 cats and live alone. I work 12 hour days on a 3 day on / 3 day off rotating cycle so my work days are long but I do get more home time than the average work schedule. Would this sort or work schedule be ok for a bengal considering how active they are? My girls Greta and Misty get along great. Greta is mellow and laid back but can really get going when she plays with Misty. Misty has a lot more energy and is more active so I think she would be a good playmate for a bengal and be able to keep up.

My main concern is the extended time I would be out of the house. If I did decide to get a bengal I would be able to arrange enough time off from work to be home more for initial introductions. I don't know if this is something that anyone can give an accurate opinion on but I would rather ask first than get into a situation that would be bad for all of us.

Thanks in advance.
 

goldenkitty45

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IMO I think Bengals are a more social needs cat and would get in more trouble if you were not around. While you have other cats, can you imagine what would happen if the Bengal initiated a chase that included the top of chairs, furniture, doorways, etc.????

Its probably best for the cat if someone is home a lot more often and can supervise and play with the Bengal. Most are super active.
 

kai bengals

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Originally Posted by Whiskers151

I had a question about bengals and figured I add it to this thread rather than create a new one.

I know all the basics about the breed but I was wondering if my overall situation would be good for a bengal, especially if I got a younger one. I currently have 2 cats and live alone. I work 12 hour days on a 3 day on / 3 day off rotating cycle so my work days are long but I do get more home time than the average work schedule. Would this sort or work schedule be ok for a bengal considering how active they are? My girls Greta and Misty get along great. Greta is mellow and laid back but can really get going when she plays with Misty. Misty has a lot more energy and is more active so I think she would be a good playmate for a bengal and be able to keep up.

My main concern is the extended time I would be out of the house. If I did decide to get a bengal I would be able to arrange enough time off from work to be home more for initial introductions. I don't know if this is something that anyone can give an accurate opinion on but I would rather ask first than get into a situation that would be bad for all of us.

Thanks in advance.
I think a bengal would fit in fine, provided that you're able and willing to spend a good hour or more of one on one playtime with the bengal per day even after you've put in a 12 hour shift.
Bengals crave human attention. Just having another cat around is usually not enough for them.
 

hoosbunny

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hmm... if I leave my bengal home alone for long she will either not talk/play with me forever or simply just kill me. Bengals are very active and playful and NEEDs your attention. =)
 
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