Finding the ideal breed might be a challenging task for many cat parents who are not familiar with their cat’s personality beforehand, and might not accept certain behaviours once a kitty has become a family member. To be a perfect cat parent and have a happy kitty, it’s best to know their personality, breed-related issues and breed particularities beforehand, and even meet a vet to manage expectations of being a proud parent of a Bengal breed.  In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the Bengal cat’s personality and behaviour

The Bengal is very independent and likes demonstrating their strength and agility, so if you dream about having a lap cat, this breed is not for you. Bengals make their own decisions and sometimes prefer to spend a certain amount of time alone. They are excellent hunters, and their behaviour is very much influenced by their instincts. Therefore, if there are smaller pets in the house such as birds, rodents or aquarium fish, the Bengal cat will be trying to hunt them.

The cats also get on well with family members and other pets or cat breeds.  They will be happy to spend time to play with babies and small children, and will be curious about everything the younger members of the family do. It is extremely rare for a cat to be openly aggressive towards others.  When bringing a Bengal kitten home pay attention to the behaviour of their parents.

Being a sociable breed, Bengal cats need to get regular contact with their owners, it is very important for them: if cats don’t get enough attention, they might damage furniture and interiors in the house or apartment. It’s crucial to start socialising with the kitten as soon as possible, spend as much time with them as possible, also in adult age, and the Bengal will become a faithful, loyal and affectionate friend.

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Bengals do not tolerate being separated from their owners. If  you need to leave your fluffy friend for a couple of days, ask someone whom your kitty knows to be their cat sitter, otherwise your Bengal cat will be missing you, feel lonely, and might refuse to eat.

Being incredibly energetic (much more than any tabby cats) and playful, one of their most important features lasting throughout their life, the Bengal cats are a perfect breed for active owners who will be playing with the cat, provide them plenty of toys, daily exercises and walks on the leash.  If you like to sleep longer, you need to know that the Bengal will likely wake you at 3 am dancing on your pillow.

The cat is constantly on the move, loves climbing to high spots, plays fetch, is easy to harness train and go for walks, and is happiest when they have access to a large outdoor catio where the Bengal can bird watch. However, Bengal cats should never be left free to roam outside because of their natural curiosity and penchant for getting into trouble, they are one of the breeds most likely to run off.

The Bengal is very loyal and accompanies their owners any time and anywhere: whether lying on the sofa or bed, cooking in the kitchen or relaxing in the bath. Any separation will be a stressful experience for the cat. Therefore, this is not the breed for cat parents who work, study, or go on business trips much.

It is a well-known fact that Bengal cats are highly intelligent. Their natural intelligence and adaptability ensured their ancestors’ survival in the wild, and for domestic cats this is a powerful foundation for learning interesting tricks: Bengal cats can follow simple commands e.g. serve balls, can learn easily how to use light switches, open latches on doors, flush the toilet, or turn on taps.

The Bengal will try to make contact with any unfamiliar objects in the house, explore every corner purring so you won’t be bored for a second. Anything within reach of the Bengal will sooner or later become their toy, so follow these rules to create a safe environment:

• if there are children in the house, keep your baby’s toys away from the cat,
• arrange a dedicated cat play area, buy or create toys for your kitty such as a cat scratcher house or wand,
• train your Bengal kitty and reward him with treats if he gets a positive reaction,
• spend enough time daily playing with the Bengal, while also engaging your kids.

Bengals are very vocal (!), they do not care what time of the day or night is, and if the cats need to say something, they will say it loudly. The sounds they make are an array of tones, intonations, specific sounds, and compositions. Depending on the cat’s mood, the sounds can change as much as the human voice and communicate their emotions.  After a few weeks or so, you will understand what these “phrases” mean. A bored Bengal cat can scream like a scared child for hours until you provide enough excitement during playtime.

Bengal cats love playing with (running) water – they put their paw under it and spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Close the doors if you want to limit this behaviour.

Bengal kittens are very curious and tend to find the most unimaginable places – cupboards or fridges. Provide a safe place where the kitten can expend their energy and do not hurt themselves.

In recent research Behavior and health issues in Bengal cats as perceived by their owners: A descriptive study by Ana Martos Martinez-Caja published in Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Bengal Cat Owners mentioned the most frequent behaviours classified as problematic:

• climbing: 89.5%
• vocalising: 88.7%
• playing with water: 79.7%
• hunting: 78.9%

Only very few respondents, according to the results of this survey, have become owners of a Bengal cat without searching for information about the breed in advance. Most of them searched for information on the Internet before purchasing and decided to bring the Bengal kitty home, also because of their personality and character. 

Bengal cat personality – final thoughts

The Bengal kitty will be a perfect  companion for active owners who will value the Bengal cat’s striking beauty and dog-like personality.   

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