Greetings, bengalcatforums!
I just want to share my recent experience of bringing a Bengal into my home... here goes:
6 months ago, my ex-gf took post-breakup custody of our two cats...
(a chartreaux,
http://imgur.com/whMFkHv and a tabby,
http://imgur.com/9KfSmrW)
...and I finally decided it was time to get my own kitty.
So last Saturday I hit up a local(ish) breeder/seller that had about 30 cats for sale. They had various breeds, including the kind of silver tabby that I had always wanted. I knew they had a beautiful Bengal too, but previous experience and research told me he was probably too crazy and too expensive so i resisted asking about him at first.
I had never seen a Bengal for sale for under US$1000, so I ended up asking out of curiosity:
- how much is that one?
"ah - the mongolian cat?"
- er.. yeah?
"$380"
I couldn't believe it! They didn't know it was a Bengal!
Bear in mind this all takes place in China, where I live. Pedigree breeds are definitely 'a thing' here, amongst the inner-city newly-rich, but American and British shorthairs pretty much dominate the market so I guess this Bengal wasn't on their radar and either they were told he was Mongolian when they bought him, or they just said that because it sounded cool.
here he is in the enclosure:
http://imgur.com/9DlbXjESo I opened up the door, picked him up and he was a typical Bengal:
5m/o,
male,
pretty lively (I played with him and tried to pet him for a good while),
extremely soft,
awesome leopard-like rosette markings,
spotty belly,
light chin,
black under-paws,
and orangey around the neck and back.
After much procrastination and deliberation I paid and took him home. Two factors made the decision really hard:
1: I know Bengals need a lot of attention and stimulation, and I live alone, work full-time and go out a fair bit, and
2: I know Bengals can be destructive in their curiosity, and my apartment has a LOT of curio stuff that I have collected/acquired over the years, sitting out in the open on my shelves.
But this Bengal was so beautiful that I decided to risk it.
He hid behind the sofa for a few hours after I got him home, but when he did emerge he got used to his new space - and me - really quickly. Not everything I had read about this breed is entirely true of my particular cat, although some typical traits are actually pretty accurate:
"Bengals are VERY vocal" - My Bengal is more vocal than my old chartreaux, but not as vocal as my old tabby. He will hassle me to clean his litter, feed him or play with him though. Which is kind of cool!
"Bengals demand a clean litter tray" - True! He won't use it unless I clean it out. Can't be lazy here. Also, he wouldn't eat for the first couple of days, but that changed when I switched his plastic bowl for one of my ceramic breakfast bowls.
"Bengals will pee outside of the litter tray" - So far this hasn't happened. I suspect it might happen if I didn't clean his litter out though. Spraying is another thing of course, and at 5 months my Bengal doesn't have this habit. I will get him spayed at 6 months.
"Bengals are hyperactive and become destructive if bored" - He's no different to other young cats I have known in terms of his curiosity. He nibbles wires and corners of stuff, but hasn't caused any damage yet. He never bears his claws when I pick him up and pet him. He spends long periods chilling by me on the sofa (not on me, but snuggling up next to me). He loves to be stroked and rubbed around the chin and belly and he purrs a lot. He does like attention. When I get in from work, he invariably emerges from under my bed. I wonder if he rests there all day until I get back because there are never any signs of him romping around when I'm out. He's always excited to come say hi by rubbing himself on my legs when I arrive home. If he jumps up on the bed or sofa, I knock him over and he just falls against me and lays there on his side.. which is exactly what just happened!
He'll stay here like this until I move:
http://imgur.com/HSZJWTShttp://imgur.com/Qb8fQWDhttp://imgur.com/1HTHFC1"Bengal cats are very intelligent" - Yes! He took two days to learn 'fetch the wand', he brings it right back to me on the sofa so it takes minimum effort from me and he loves it! He does also like to 'help' clean the litter tray, and he follows me from room to room, keenly observing whatever it is I'm doing. He likes to sleep next to me, but tends to wake up and run around a bit before sunrise. I've only had him a week so I'm not sure what he's like with other people yet.
"Bengal cats love water" - I showered him on the first day, he hated it! He is not at all curious about the bathroom.
"Bengal cats don't shed" - Yes, great!
Overall, he's just a
top pusscat. I'm so happy I found him, it was really unexpected.
I have heard it so many times: breeds tend towards certain traits, but each cat itself represents a unique combination of variables. I feel so lucky that my Bengal appears to be relatively chill for his breed.
That's my experience so far - how did your research/expectations compare to your Bengal experiences?