In a recent article on this website, we looked at whether or not two Bengal cats can share the same litter box.
In that article, we concluded that it is definitely not a good idea for your Bengals to share.
Litter box time is “private time” for your cats, and forcing them to share litter boxes could cause all manner of behavioural issues.
But what about when it comes to food and water bowls?
Can two (or more) Bengal cats share the same bowl?
In this short article, we take a look to find out what you need to know about Bengals sharing foot and water bowls.
Please note that this advice also applies to households with mixed breeds of cat (e.g. one Bengal cat and one other type of cat).
Bengal Cats Sharing Food Bowl
On paper, two (or more) Bengal cats can share the same food bowl. Sharing food is not as big of an issue as sharing a litter box.
However, we strongly recommend that each Bengal (or any cat, for that matter) in your household has his/her own food bowl and food supply.
There are a few reasons for this:
1. One cat may come to dominate the food and get the ‘lion’s share’, leaving an insufficient quantity for the other cat(s). Having separate bowls solves this issue.
2. Competing over food may cause aggression and undesirable behaviour.
3. Different cats require different food. For example, you may have one young cat and then an older Bengal who requires a different diet.
4. It’s easier for you to assess if your cats are eating too much or too little if they have their own food supply.
Therefore, ensure that each cat in your household has his/her own food bowl and supply of food.
Check out our guide here to the best food for Bengal cats for more information on what you should be feeding your precious felien companions!
Bengal Cats Sharing Water Bowl
The good news is that sharing water bowls is a lot more straightforward.
Water is water (unless you have a cat that only drinks Perrier, or something exotic like that!).
In the wild, cats would likely share sources of water (e.g. ponds or rivers).
Your cats can probably share water bowls with absolutely no negative consequences, which is good news.
If you do find one of your cats gets territorial or protective over water, then having a second bowl for the other cat that is in a different location is not a bad idea at all. However, this may not be necessary so we recommend looking at sharing first.
We also recommend you take a look at a drinking fountain for your Bengal cat (check out our guide here to the best water fountains for Bengal cats). Not only will this encourage your cats to drink more water, but may also make it easier for your cats to share.
Conclusion
Can two or more Bengal cats (or any breed of cats, for that matter) share the same bowl?
It’s possible for both food and water bowls, but should really be avoided for food for a few reasons.
Water bowls are an “easier share” however, so you don’t need to worry so much about this. We also encourage you to look at getting a cat drinking fountain, to encourage your Bengals to drink more water.
We hope you find this article helpful. Please check out our site for more Bengal cat ownership advice. If you have any questions or concerns, you can leave a comment below as well.
