One of the most common questions we get through our contact page is “are Bengal cats affectionate?”
In this article we are going to look at whether or not Bengal cats are affectionate pets.
There are some misconceptions about the temperament of Bengal cats that leads some prospective owners to believe their pet won’t be very affectionate.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that Bengal cats are any less affectionate than any other type of domestic cat.
According to owners we have talked to, information we can gather on forums and blogs, and our own experience, Bengals have the potential to be every bit as affectionate as any other type of cat.
Misconceptions About Bengal Cat Affection
Where some of the misconception about Bengal cat affection arises from is the fact that Bengals have that reputation for being “part wild”. Rightly or wrongly, this has filtered in to the popular perception of Bengals, and many people incorrectly believe them to be less affectionate than other types of cats.
Although the slightly-more-wild nature of the Bengal can result in some less conventional behaviours, it also doesn’t seem to have much impact on a Bengal’s ability to be affectionate and friendly.
Perhaps the most common theme we hear from Bengal owners (and our experience is the same) is that Bengal cats are affectionate on their own terms. You can’t expect your Bengal to be affectionate all of the time. There will be some times when you want affection from your Bengal and they aren’t quite so willing to give it. There will also be times where they shower you with love and affection when you aren’t quite feeling it.
That is the way of Bengal cat ownership!
Conclusion
To answer the question “are Bengal cats affectionate” – it certainly seems that they are!
As we said at the start, there is no evidence (and no reason why) Bengals would be any more or less affectionate on average than any other breed.
There are always going to be natural variations within a population … cats – just like humans – very much have their ow n personalities.
The most important thing to remember in some respects is that Bengal cats are very much affectionate on their own terms. You cannot expect a Bengal to be friendly and affectionate all the time.
As long as you are happy with this, then we are confident you will enjoy Bengal cat ownership!
