Bengals are very active when they're awake and most importantly, they are like that throughout their entire life span. This is truly a mixed blessing. Coupled with their activity level is their curiosity and intelligence and this can all spell for some bad behavior if not given a proper outlet. Bengals can get quit persistent in wanting to get playmates and this is primarily why I highly encourage having other pets, or even better another Bengal that can give that outlet. Let me give you an example of behavior that can appear when there is no outlet. A Bengal can jump onto cabinets and knock down something interesting. Even if what they knock down breaks into tiny pieces they can then start to play with the pieces until they are bored again. At this point, they can go back to the cabinets and knock down some more stuff. Bengals are very much like little children that do require an outlet and a certain degree of stimulation.
So how can you give this much needed stimulation?
Cat furniture, toys, a running cat wheel, outdoor walks on a leash, and best of all: another Bengal or You! Why another Bengal and how to walk your cat on a leash are two topics I will address in other posts.
Cat furniture is cheapest online and the most expensive in pet stores since they seriously like to mark up all things accessory. Make sure the cat furniture has scratching sissel posts and preferably is very tall since Bengals are from a tree-dwelling leopard ancestor. It is also best to place cat furniture near a window where stimulating outdoor activity can be observed and the warming rays of sunshine can attract.
A running cat wheel allows for physically exhausting and active behavior while preventing your cat from bouncing off walls and using you as a spring board as they fly around the home.
Cat toys can include ping pong balls that are easy to toss, balls with bells, and catnip filled mice. Just a little fact, catnip won't have much of an effect on cats until they reach 6 months old. This is because catnip mimics the odor emitted by a cat when they're in heat and so they won't recognize the odor until the age they reach sexual maturity. Any toys with bird feathers, including feathered wands, need to be supervised and hidden when supervision is not available because Bengals love to eat birds and they will pluck the feathers and eat them. Bengals have even been singularly named and blamed for wiping out entire bird populations according to the Audubon Society simply because once a Bengal gets into a tree there is no equal. Just like little children, once a toy breaks apart you will need to dispose of the pieces before they can try to eat them. Most cases of intermittent and occasional vomiting and diarrhea are really because of Bengals eating inappropriate things. This is, however, not the case for ongoing and persistent vomiting and diarrhea. The lazy man's way of interacting with your Bengal for hours is the time honored use of the Laser Pointer! Tunnels, or even better yet crinkle tunnels, are yet another additive to your toy collection your Bengal will thank you for.
Stay Away From:
While cardboard boxes are great fun for all animals alike, if your Bengal's nails are ripping off pieces of cardboard then you'll need to get rid of the box. Eating pieces of cardboard is yet another thing, along with eating pieces of plastic, feathers, or even plants that Bengals will do and get sick. This is also a reason I recommend using rope sissel posts but stay away from cardboard scratching posts. Plus you don't want pieces of cardboard all over your house either.
So how can you give this much needed stimulation?
Cat furniture, toys, a running cat wheel, outdoor walks on a leash, and best of all: another Bengal or You! Why another Bengal and how to walk your cat on a leash are two topics I will address in other posts.
Cat furniture is cheapest online and the most expensive in pet stores since they seriously like to mark up all things accessory. Make sure the cat furniture has scratching sissel posts and preferably is very tall since Bengals are from a tree-dwelling leopard ancestor. It is also best to place cat furniture near a window where stimulating outdoor activity can be observed and the warming rays of sunshine can attract.
A running cat wheel allows for physically exhausting and active behavior while preventing your cat from bouncing off walls and using you as a spring board as they fly around the home.
Cat toys can include ping pong balls that are easy to toss, balls with bells, and catnip filled mice. Just a little fact, catnip won't have much of an effect on cats until they reach 6 months old. This is because catnip mimics the odor emitted by a cat when they're in heat and so they won't recognize the odor until the age they reach sexual maturity. Any toys with bird feathers, including feathered wands, need to be supervised and hidden when supervision is not available because Bengals love to eat birds and they will pluck the feathers and eat them. Bengals have even been singularly named and blamed for wiping out entire bird populations according to the Audubon Society simply because once a Bengal gets into a tree there is no equal. Just like little children, once a toy breaks apart you will need to dispose of the pieces before they can try to eat them. Most cases of intermittent and occasional vomiting and diarrhea are really because of Bengals eating inappropriate things. This is, however, not the case for ongoing and persistent vomiting and diarrhea. The lazy man's way of interacting with your Bengal for hours is the time honored use of the Laser Pointer! Tunnels, or even better yet crinkle tunnels, are yet another additive to your toy collection your Bengal will thank you for.
Stay Away From:
While cardboard boxes are great fun for all animals alike, if your Bengal's nails are ripping off pieces of cardboard then you'll need to get rid of the box. Eating pieces of cardboard is yet another thing, along with eating pieces of plastic, feathers, or even plants that Bengals will do and get sick. This is also a reason I recommend using rope sissel posts but stay away from cardboard scratching posts. Plus you don't want pieces of cardboard all over your house either.