Bengal Breed Information

Bengals are highly intelligent, energetic and require plenty of mental stimulation and opportunities to exercise.

They are known to be quite vocal, and will make sure you know if they want something! They’re affectionate, but you are more likely to find them curled up next to you rather than on your lap. They like to have a high up vantage point; a cat tree is ideal for providing this.

Breed-related health problems:

Owners are, understandably, upset when their cat develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they’d known what problems the breed was prone to have. The potential health problems that Bengals are prone to include:

• Hip dysplasia – an abnormality of the hip joints causing lameness in the hind legs, which can make walking difficult.
• Patellar Luxation – a condition in which the patella (knee cap) moves out of its normal location, resulting in limping or difficulty walking on the back legs. May require surgery to correct the problem. Cats with hip dysplasia and patellar luxation are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
• Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) – this infectious condition is usually fatal. Bengal cats are more likely to develop this than non-pedigree cats.

We’d recommend discussing the medical history of your potential kitten’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a cat with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.

Coat care:

Bengals have striking markings on their coat, which requires a light brushing/combing once a week to keep it in top condition and remove any loose hairs.

Estimated cost over lifetime:

These costs are based on essential items such as:

• A bed, litter and tray
• Grooming items
• Food and bowl
• Preventive treatment such as flea, worming, vaccinations and neutering
• Toys
• Cat carrier
• Pet insurance

This does not include initial purchase cost, non-essential items (such as holiday care) or potential veterinary treatment of which an excess needs to be paid before your pet may be covered by pet insurance.

Insure your Bengal Cat with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like Bengal Cats that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your Bengal Cat with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your cat please visit our kitten and cat section.

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a cat from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your cat from.

Not sure if the Bengal is the right pet for you?