Do You Think A Bengal Cat Would Get Along With A Puppy?
hi! i have a 9 month old border collie and i really want a cat so i am looking at breeds that might fit in well with a big family (6 of us, kids aged 17-23 so a very busy house) and that would play well with my dog
i saw a picture of a bengal and they look so cute and happy, i was wondering if anyone knows how a cat like this might fit into my family and any other info! thanks!
It depends on how old the bengal is when you get it. If it is young it will learn to be friendly and get along but if you get it when it is older it will probably try to attack
Never ever buy a breed based on looks. This can’t be more true for the hybrid cat. A Bengal is a relatively new breed of cat that is a domestic crossed with a wild *ancestor*. They do not have the same physical, dietary, social, and attention needs as a regular house cat.
Yes, the Bengals are beautiful, but they’re not for everyone.
You MUST dedicate a lot of time and effort to them. They don’t lounge in the sun and sleep all day. They are extremely high-strung, vocal cats. They need a diet high in protein, which means *quality* well-balanced food, and a portion of raw meat.
Bengals are prone to IBS (diarrhea), which is an incurable, but manageable disease. Many people don’t realize this when they get a Bengal, and end up abandoning it because they don’t have patience to experiment with their diet and clean up “accidents.”
Many Bengals are also very shy, and will hide from loud people and loud noises. Consider your family environment, and honestly decide if you’d want to bring a skittish creature into your household.
Bengals usually attach themselves to one person, and they don’t take very much interest in other humans unless they’re in the mood to. Please consider that if you get a Bengal, it may prefer someone else in your household instead of *you.*
Bengals generally don’t like to be picked up, they’re definitely not lap cats, and they aren’t cuddely creatures. However, they are happy to cuddle up with you at night (if they’re not busy). They’re affectionate cats, in their own way, on their own terms.
Keep in mind: NOT ALL Bengals are super smart, like water, play fetch, or walk on a harness. Our female is smart and plays fetch maybe once a month. She hates water past her paws, and abhors a harness. Our male Bengal is our “Big Dumb Lover.” (Need I say more? lol…)
Another thing to consider: Cost. Bengals *START* at $350 for kittens, and can be as much as $700 for a *pet quality* kitten alone.
Also, Bengals can live to be in their early 20’s. Obviously, I don’t know your age, but are you prepared to care for an animal so long?
A Bengal will generally co-habitate well with dogs, as well as they have been properly introduced, and both animals are socialized. If you do decide to get a Bengal, make sure you talk at length with the breeder, visit the cattery, and ask if the kittens have been raised with dogs.
The real question shouldn’t be “Will a Bengal get along with my dog” but rather “Will a Bengal be right for my family?”