About Bengal Cats
The Bengal cat breed was obtained by a cross between a domestic cat and Asian Leopard cat. It is a gentle domestic cat which acquired this temperament after three or four generations from the initial crossing. These cats have leopard-like large, dark spots on the body and a light, white belly. Their forelegs have dark stripes and eyes are highlighted by “mascara” which is a dark stripping along the eye. A muscular body is characteristic to this breed with the normal weight range of 9-12 pounds for adult males, and 7-10 pounds for adult females. Their ears are larger than regular domestic cats and are naturally held upright. A strong, thick tail which is usually held low imparts a striking appearance to these cats.
Caring Tips for Bengal Cats
Initial Days at Home
Even humans take time to adjust to a new environment, so it is not unusual for your new pet to feel uncomfortable in the new surroundings. The sadness of being taken away from its mother and sudden disappearance of its mates will make your pet feel insecure. To accommodate this issue and provide it a comfortable environment, confine it to a particular room with proper arrangements of litter box, food and resting place. Instruct your kids not to disturb it during the first few days so that it adjusts with the new house and housemates. After a few days, open the door of the room and let it explore the house on its own. It is very interesting to watch pets examine each and every corner of the house. Eventually, your pet Bengal cat will gain confidence and start considering your house as its own.
Feeding Instructions
Take an initial supply of food from the pet store so that you can provide the same food it has been feeding on. It is advisable to feed your pet Bengal cat with the food it has been having for a minimum period of four weeks. Later on, you can change it, but make sure you do this in transition to prevent it from denying food. Provide only canned foods to your pet because they have some water content. This breed does not drink enough water, so it becomes necessary to provide water through food. Dry foods do not have water content and are hence, not advisable. Another point to check in canned foods is that, meat must be the main ingredient because these cats are primarily carnivorous. Never fail to maintain fresh water and food supply for the cat so that it can munch on, whenever it feels like.
Provide a Litter Box
Provide a litter box for your cat at a place where it can reach comfortably. Clean the litter box every day, and clean it thoroughly every month with bleach solution and ten parts of water. If your cat has a litter box problem, take it to a vet and get it examined for worms and urinary infections. Cats usually do not avoid their litter box and if it does, there is definitely some problem. Your pet Bengal cat may also not like the new litter brand you have got from the store. If that’s the case, you need to switch back to the previous brand.
Vaccination
Proper vaccination is important for prevention of diseases in your pet cat. Talk to a vet about the vaccinations required. If your cat moves outdoors as well, the vet might recommend rabies vaccine. Sometimes, it is also necessary to vaccinate against feline leukemia, which is again suggested by the veterinarian. Avoid over-vaccinating your pet cat because it may prove to be dangerous by triggering cancer at the site of vaccination.
Grooming
Most Bengal cats love water and do not avoid bathing. You can make a proper routine for bathing sessions of your pet cat. However, bathing domestic cats is not a necessity. They also like to get themselves brushed to remove dead hair from their body. They are more into self-grooming and the first thing they prefer to do after waking up is brushing their body. A regular nail trimming session must be conducted so that no one gets scratched by their sharp nails.
Modify Inappropriate Behavior
Your pet Bengal cat may behave strangely at times. To rectify unusual and undesired behavior, regular training is required. The best way to modify a wrong behavior is to remove the cause behind it. Suppose, if your cat is destroying indoor plants, it is better to shift the plants to another place rather than striking the cat. Hitting your pet cat will create fear towards you and it may not respond the way it used to before.
Caring is the best way to develop a firm bond between you and your pet. Play fun games and carry out interesting activities as pets belonging to the Bengal cat breed love to engage in fun activities. Proper feeding, caring, love and affection is all that you need to keep your pet cat happy and healthy!
