What Do I Need To Know Before Adopting A Bengal Cat?

Are you thinking of adopting a Bengal cat or bringing one into your home and family?

If so, congratulations!

Bengals are fantastic pets and great, loyal companions.

However, there are some considerations that you need to ponder before adopting a Bengal cat.

In this article, we answer the question “what do I need to know before adopting a Bengal cat?”

What You Must Consider About Bengal Cat Ownership

  • Owning a Bengal is for life – This is the most important thing to consider about Bengal cat ownership. Adopting a Bengal isn’t just for a short term; it’s a long-term commitment. Adopting a Bengal cat is something you need to consider carefully because of the fact that you are going to be in it for the long haul. If you think your interest or commitment will wane over time, then you are better off not adopting a Bengal cat. It upsets us greatly when we see Bengals up for adoption/rehoming because the previous owner really wasn’t committed enough to the long-term nature of having a pet.
  • You need to be prepared to spend money – There is more to Bengal cat ownership cost than the “price of admission”. You need to consider food (read our guide to the best food for Bengal cats for more information on what you should be feeding) as well as vet bills. You also need to consider required equipment, such as litter boxes (view our guide here to the best litter boxes for Bengal cats) as well as toys. Just like buying a car, you need to consider both the purchase price AND the cost of ownership … and those costs can rack up quite quickly. Are you in the financial position for this?
  • There will be challenges and difficulties, and patience is a virtue – This is something that cannot be overstated enough. Owning a Bengal call won’t always be the easiest process. You are going to encounter snags and frustrations along the way, which have the potential to challenge you greatly. For example, you might find that your Bengal takes to destroying your house (especially in their kitten and adolescent phase). Is this something you are really prepared for? Or are you a ‘fair weather friend’ and likely to tire quickly of the challenges that might come with Bengal adoption and ownership. Be realistic here. If you don’t think you can tolerate the potential excessive vocalisation, high energy, and risk for furniture damage, then perhaps a Bengal isn’t the right choice.

Conclusion

If you’re asking “what do I need to know before adopting a Bengal cat?” then hopefully this article was helpful.

As you can see, there are a number of considerations you need to make before bringing a Bengal into your home and family.

Provided you think properly on these key points and ensure you are truly “happy” with them, then there is no reason you can’t have a great companionship with a Bengal cat in your household.

Thank you so much for reading.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. We also welcome any feedback or criticism; once again, just leave a comment below and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.

Make sure you check out the rest of our site for more Bengal cat ownership advice.

Don’t miss our most popular article either, which is how to tell if your cat is a Bengal mix.

1 thought on “What Do I Need To Know Before Adopting A Bengal Cat?”

  1. Hi there!

    I came across your site which honestly has been a god send and would like to ask a question.
    i recently adopted a 6yr Bengal (possibly mixed) from a shelter and have had him for a week now. Hes still settlung inn and doing ok so far but he is very aggressive towards me some days. I keep my distance and try and talk in a calm gentle manner when he gets like this. Issue i want to resolve is around him wearing a collar or harness. on our 4th day of being together i put his harness on which he meowed A LOT when putting it on but once it was on he didnt complain. we even went for a short walk which was wonderful. so each day i put it on so he could get used to it (also wears it so when hes on the balcony with me and trys to jump he’s attached to a leash) But yesterday after taking it off and then him wanting to go for a walk in the apartment complex i tried to put his harness on to which he cried and became very mean. i waited and even just layed the harness next to him so he could see its ok but he refused to let me put it on. Today hes being very pissy with me and wont even let me give him a pat without being bitten. i dont know why he all of a sudden wont let me put on his collar or harness and i dont want to ruin our bonding by this. if you have any suggestions please let me know as i want to be the best mum for my little Leo.

    Thank you

    Reply

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