In this article we take a look at how to tire out a Bengal cat.
Many owners complain that Bengals are simply too energetic, and that their cats are too much of a handful.
While we don’t think this is the case for every Bengal cat, we can certainly understand that having a cat that is excessively energetic is a big challenge.
You will also find that if your Bengal has too much “spare energy”, this massively increases the risk of destructive behaviour.
If you’re concerned that your Bengal might damage your furniture, house etc, then this is an important issue to solve.
That’s why we decided to put together this simple guide to tiring out your Bengal cat:
Four Steps To Tiring Out Your Bengal Cat
In our opinion, here are the four most effective ways you can tire out your Bengal cat and help to mitigate destructive behaviour.
- Ensure your Bengal has plenty of toys – If you want to wear out your Bengal cat, then one of the most important things you can do is provide them with good toys to play with. A Bengal without toys is just begging for trouble. You need to provide a diverse array of toys for your cat, especially toys that they can play with without your input (e.g. while you are out at work). Check out our guide here to the best toys for Bengal cats; this will give you plenty of insight into some of the best toy options to keep your cat entertained and control their energy levels.
- Play games with your cat – Just providing your Bengal with a good selection of toys is probably not enough. If you want to tire out your Bengal, then it’s really important to spend time playing games with your Bengal and giving them an outlet for their energy. This is also a great bonding opportunity. We find that many overly-energetic Bengals behave in such a way because they are not given enough “play time” with humans. It’s critical that you allocate some time each and every day to play with your Bengal and to provide them with a good opportunity to burn up some of that excess energy.
- Outside activity – Another effective way to tire out your Bengal cat is to let them go outside. When stuck indoors, their ability to be active is reduced, and in some respects their energy is ‘compressed’ into a smaller space, meaning a higher likelihood of overly-energetic, potentially destructive behaviour. Therefore, look at letting your Bengal cat outside on a frequent basis if he/she spends most of their time indoors. This – of course – will be dependent on your living situation. If you live in an apartment or right next to a busy road, then this might not be such a good option (see our comment below for another option).
- Go for walks – If you’re unable (or unwilling) to let your Bengal cat outside to roam around, then another option is to actually walk your Bengal cat on a leash. Bengals are known to respond very well to leash training, so this is definitely a great option to look at. Some people might find the concept of walking a cat a bit bizarre, but we reckon it’s a whole lot of fun for you, your family, and your cat. This is a fantastic way to tire out your Bengal if he/she is otherwise spending most of their time indoors or without adequate activity. If you want to walk your Bengal cat, then you’ll need a good leash and harness. Check out our guide to the best leashes for Bengal cats, and the best harnesses for Bengal cats – this will help you to find the right products for your needs.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering how to tire out your Bengal cat, then we hope the advice above was helpful.
To recap:
- Ensure you have plenty of exciting and stimulating toys for your Bengal – especially ones that your cat can use when you aren’t around.
- Dedicate time each day to play with your Bengal cat.
- Go outside with your Bengal (or let them outside).
- If you can’t let your Bengal “roam free” outside safely, then look at the potential of taking your cat for walks instead.
If you follow this advice, then you will find it much easier to wear out your Bengal and mitigate some of their occasionally more damaging tendencies!
Thanks for reading – please check out the rest of our site for more articles on Bengal cat behaviour and ownership.
