If you’ve owned a Bengal cat for any period of time, then you’re probably more than familiar with the noise.
Simply put, Bengal cats love to “talk”.
But why do Bengal cats talk so much?
In this article, we are going to cover some of the key points around why Bengal cats enjoy talking so much.
Bengal Cats Are Highly Communicative
Firstly, you need to bear in mind that meowing is how cats talk.
They aren’t blessed like humans with the ability to communicate in words, and so instead rely on their ability to meow (often with different pitch/tone) to convey a message.
Feline communication is a complex topic – the science behind it is fascinating and well beyond the scope of this humble website.
However, suffice it to say that some breeds of cats are known to be less communicative. For various reasons, they may be perfectly content to be “left to their own devices” and not do a huge amount of communicating with their owners or other animals.
Bengal cats, on the other hand, are famed for their highly communicative nature.
Therefore, if you’re thinking of getting a Bengal but the thought of a “noisy”, communicative pet gives you cause for concern, then you may wish to consider another breed.
Reasons For Bengal Cat Meowing So Much
One common misconception that can alarm Bengal cat owners is a mistaken belief that meowing/talking automatically means your cat is in pain or distress.
While there is no doubt that your cat may well meow to indicate something is wrong, there are also plenty of other reasons why your Bengal has a tendency to vocalise. For example:
* Meowing/talking in Bengals can be a sign of friendliness and comfort. Our Bengal meows in a very distinctive tone when she is happy to see you and relaxed.
* Your Bengal may meow/talk when he or she wants attention. Bengals are known to be attention seeking cats. They demand attention a lot of the time, and you best be prepared to give it to them.
* A dirty litter tray is a common cause for talking and vocalisation in Bengal cats. Ensuring your Bengal has access to a clean litter tray is crucial if you want to minimise vocalisation. We have found with our Bengal that a dirty litter tray is the number one cause of excessive talking.
* Your Bengal may meow and talk if hungry. If you hear your Bengal meowing, then it pays to check he/she has food available.
* Thirsty
* Territory
When To Be Concerned About Your Bengal Cat Meowing
As you can see from the list above, there are many reasons why your Bengal cat might be meowing.
But when should you be concerned for the safety and wellbeing of your cat?
A couple of ground rules apply here:
1. If your Bengal is meowing a lot more than usual, or with a pitch/tone that suggests pain or discomfort (this may be louder, more frequent, and more piercing in terms of type of sound). If this happens, then monitor and consider taking your cat to the vet.
2. If meowing is accompanied by a loss of appetite, loss of desire to drink water or any kind of listlessness. This could indicate something is rather wrong with your Bengal, so in this circumstance it would pay to get them down to the vet ASAP.
Make sure you bear these two in mind.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many reasons why your Bengal cat talks and meows so much.
It doesn’t always mean something is wrong. In fact, Bengal cat vocalisation indicates anything from happiness through to pain and discomfort.
Bengals are a vocal breed, and this sometimes excessive talking is part of the “deal” that comes with inviting a Bengal into your home!
Understanding the causes and implications of this behaviour will make it much easier to deal with.
We hope you enjoyed this article – make sure you check out our other content on Bengal cat ownership for more info.
A few years ago I had the privilege of adopting two 11yr old Bengals – Sahara, a gorgeous brown spotted boy, who boasted 22 spots on his belly also, surprisingly quiet for the breed, and his sister, Sapphire, a snow Bengal with Sapphire blue eyes. Sahara was shy, and, to be honest, I think he left all the vocals to Sapphire, who rarely shut up, meowing, demanding whatever it was she wanted – and always got!!! Sahara’s vice was stealing (my) food, anything with meat, plus shredding my carpet, and pulling the bed divan drawer out!
Sapphire’s vice was mainly attention-seeking – and all the behaviour that goes with it – knocking objects off shelves, standing in front of the TV for ages, walking over even wet art canvases, and, of course, my laptop keyboard! They literally worked side by side shredding my bedroom carpet just by the door, ears back, concentrating hard on their task!!!!!
At the end of the day, he’d settle on the settee, she would groin his head and neck, then snuggle up to him, as I arranged their tails in a cute pose – and photographed them!!!
Bengals are wonderful cats, but they’re very demanding, really do need lots of mental stimulation like play, interaction with their human family – and where possible, outdoor space. Sometimes Sapphire became so agitated many times, but when I get her out into the back yard she calmed down (but I had to make sure it was safe, and escape-proof).
Think very carefully if you want a Bengal cat. They can’t cope with isolation, so you’ll need at least two, which WILL make it more challenging and demanding, even when they’re older. There are so many Bengal Cat Rescue Centres, which shows that things may not always work out.
Sahara sadly died at age 12. He had acute kidney failure, and the Vet strongly advised putting him to sleep. I still cry about him now. He was so incredibly sweet, and it was terrible to see him suffer. Sapphire grieved so much, and couldn’t stop crying for him. Mine is a small house, so, although I could have got another cat instead took her back to the general cat rescue centre I’d got them both from. Very soon after she was rehomed. I know that for a fact, and I asked that she be with an understanding owner, with another cat, with safe outdoor space.
Sorry, I meant to say she’s groom his head, then snuggle up to him…(these automatic words come up with all sorts! Please alter this if you can, thanks).
Thank you for this! We have two half-Bengal cats, a brother and sister, and the sister is really talkative. We don’t mind and give her the attention she needs, but I was one of those who had the misconception that meowing always meant something was wrong. Thank you for clarifying it for me.
Thanks for commenting Toni. I’m glad you found the article helpful. Bengals are typically quite vocal cats, and over time you’ll learn if any of the “talking” is indicating something is wrong, or just normal communication.