There’s nothing worse than that heart-stopping moment when you think your beloved cat might have run away.
Anyone who has owned a cat before (that is allowed to go outside) has probably experienced this.
It is well documented and known that some breeds of cat are more liable than others to wander and potentially even run away.
So, will Bengal cats run away when given the chance?
As we have discussed on this site before, Bengal cats do have a tendency to be adventurous animals.
They like to roam and explore when given the chance to go outside.
Does this mean your Bengal cat will run away?
The truth is actually more complicated than any simple “yes” or “no” answer. This is one of those ‘how long is a piece of string’ questions.
There is no doubt that if you do let your Bengal cat outside, there is a chance he/she might run away.
However, the more likely scenario (that still results in your Bengal going missing) is that he/she roams and explores – as is the tendency for Bengal cats – and then manages to get lost or somehow injured, and is then unable to find his/her way back home.
“Running away” in the strictest sense of the term implies that your Bengal is looking to get away from you. This is unlikely. Instead, the bigger risk is that your Bengal roams too far and then has trouble finding his/her way back to safety.
It’s not that your Bengal wants to run away. It’s more that they want to fulfil their natural inclination for exploration, and then get into trouble during the process!
Reducing The Risk Of Your Bengal Cat Running Away
Does this mean that you shouldn’t let your Bengal outside?
In our opinion, no it does not. Bengals generally enjoy going outside, so if there is an opportunity for yours to do so, then you should afford them that opportunity.
However, it is important to take some simple steps to reduce the risk of your Bengal cat running away (or getting lost/disorientated, as we discussed above).
Firstly, look to secure your property where possible. For example, you will ideally have a fence and gate on your property. It’s not hard for a Bengal (or any cat, for that matter) to climb over – but this does act as a bit of a ‘territorial barrier’ that may encourage your Bengal not to stray too far.
Secondly, consider having your Bengal microchipped so that if he/she gets lost or runs away and is then caught, you can be reunited more easily. If microchipping is not an option, then a collar with name & phone information would be a suitable option (bear in mind that collars can increase the risk of your cat getting caught/stuck on trees, bushes etc).
Avoid letting your Bengal out at night as much as possible. The risk of something going wrong (like getting hit by a car) goes up drastically at night, so this is to be avoided where possible.
Ensure that your Bengal cat is fixed before letting them outside. For males, this reduces aggression and the chance of fighting (a cat injured in a fight may flee and then get lost). For females, this reduces risk and also prevents them from getting pregnant and having kittens.
It’s also important to remember that any cat that is allowed to explore outside will inherently be at more risk than a cat that lives inside only. Busy roads, other animals, etc – there are many more risks for an outdoors cat. Ultimately, it is up to you as the owner to determine whether or not you are happy with the additional risk that comes with allowing your Bengal to explore outside – we cannot make that decision for you.
Conclusion
Whenever you let a cat outside, there is always a risk he/she might run away or go wandering and get lost.
What you need to do is firstly decide if you can tolerate this risk (and if not, you’ll need to provide an enriching indoors environment for your Bengal). Secondly, you want to actively take steps to minimise risk for your Bengal when he/she goes outdoors.
We hope you found this article helpful – please check out the other articles on this site for more information.
