Bengals are well known for their beautiful leopard-like coat and outgoing personality. They have been called the Rolls-Royce of cats but their uniqueness is not just limited to their look. Even if you’ve had other kitties in your life, owning a Bengal can be an entirely new feline experience. Here are 7 fun Bengal cat facts you may not have known about one of the most popular cat breed.
1. Bengals love water
Bengals enjoy water and will play for long periods in a bathtub with a few inches of water in it or in a bathroom sink with the faucet slightly running. Some will even join you in the shower or bathtub.
2. Bengals are very vocal
The Bengal cat doesn’t meow quite like other cats and they can’t easily be ignored. They are very vocal and will definitely let you know when they want something such as food or entertainment.
3. Bengals inherit the glitter gene
The rich color and glittery shine distinguishes the Bengal coat from other cats. Their coat will appear to shine in the sunlight with a glitter that has an iridescent quality!
4. Bengals are excellent jumpers
Bengals flying abilities mean they can jump up to 3 times their height and can easily gain access to all of the tall furnitures in your house. They’re also excellent climbers.
5. Bengals have a wild blood line
The Asian Leopard Cat is the foundation wild cat for this breed. In 1963, Jean Sugden Mill successfully bred a female Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic short-haired male to produce the first documented Bengal Cat.
6. Bengals can learn dog-like tricks
With a little bit of patience, positive reinforcement techniques and some treats, Bengals can be taught simple dog-like tricks such as rolling over, sitting up or jumping through hoops.
7. Bengals are little thieves
They may look innocent but if you have a hard time finding your necklace or house keys, it’s probably kitty who went on a hunt to steal all that glitters. Bengals certainly earn a capital “B” for burglary.
Check out our Bengal cat guide to learn more about this amazing breed!
I think my bengal (who regularly joins me in the shower) is a “snow” Bengal. He’s not orangey in color and he has blue eyes. I also have a Savannah that someone purchased from a breeder who deemed her too small for breeding. She wound up at the shelter because she was “skittish, unfriendly and hid all the time”. When I approached her cage she meowed at me and jumped up and ran over to me when I opened the door and licked my hand. She is the most affectionate, needy cat I have ever come across. I don’t dare look at her because if I do she races over w/that “you called me, right?!” She sticks to me like glue and insists on sleeping under the covers with me.if I pretend I’m asleep she’ll keep pawing at me until I lift the covers for her. “Unfriendly, skittish, hides all the time” Yeah, right.
Great story, you probly have a connection with the skittish girl and she knew it. When an animal is with its real family I feel it knows it and can became a lot more relaxed. My Bengal girl does the same scrarchie thing for me to lift the blankets so she can hop under. Lol
All true! I love my Bengal more than anything in this world.
Number 7 happened to me more than once and this is why I never leave anything out.
I adopted mine a few years ago and I can honestly say I don’t remember life before my man. Apollo has brought a lot to our family. He may be a pain in the butt and needy at times but I wouldn’t trade home for anything. Thieving is his trademark, especially my at keys before I have to go to work :-) he loves the car and I have to take him for a ride atleast twice a week or he gets antsy.
I am Mother to a four year old Bengal, named Nigel, he is. very active, loves his food and all his toys. No problem with the dirt box, a clean boy. He has to sleep with me every night cuddled up under my arm or around my neck! Nigel adopted me one year ago, when he left his home! He has required patience and lots of attention and love, he gets on well with my Greyhound. We are happy.
Very interesting and true. I have two Bengal Cats. Every day they bring me great joy.
I have an 11 yr old Bengal & a 4 yr old llapsopoo dog, they are great friends, eat sleep play together, following each other everywhere,& YES, Bengals are very vocal,
Sarah Jane has brought us almost 7 years full of laughter and fun …. she weights 23-25 lbs if anything is not her idea she won’t do it but when it’s bedtime or naptime she is right there to let you know and will not shut up until you go, at night she wants us in bed and lights off she sits by the bed until that is done then, she eats, drinks, uses the sandbox then pounces up on the bed with us. what a love.
Mine is 15 yeas old. Not as active as before. I never knew where I would find her. she would hang out on the top of my book shelf or you could find her o the top of my kitchen cupboards esp when the weather gets cold. She also is very vocal and does play fetch.
Very cute
Mine is called ROMEO.
I love Bengals. They are beautiful and I wish I could afford one!!!
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful cats!
We have a 5 year old Bengal, Suri. She is beautiful but the most feral cat I’ve ever had. She is an indoor cat and you can’t even pick her up. She runs away if you come anywhere near her, jumps at her own shadow and is terrified of everything. She also often pees and poops outside the litter box although we keep it very clean. I try so hard to get close to her, spending much time when she’s sleepy (the only time you can get near her) patting her and she loves it then, but otherwise it’s like she’s been traumatised and we’ve had her since she was about 6 weeks old, we bought her from a reputable breeder and have NEVER hurt her. She’s that bad that the one, and only time we took her to the vet for a general check up, even THEY couldn’t deal with her and had to keep her in overnight and sedate her to examine her. We love her, but we are just lost as to what to do.
I have two males, they are brothers! One is a marble pattern and one spotted!
they are 13.5 months! Everything you said they do except the water! I will have to put some in the bathtub and see what they do!
They are very smart! Loving! I take them to work! The office looks like a cat preschool! They help entertain us and help relieve stress!
My Gizamo..is my Half a Bengal Bottle Baby;) I love him as if I birthed him..I’m not nuts…but i know it sounds like it..ha ha
My 3year old called storm has caused such a fuss in retirement park where I live the residents want me to get rid of him . Yes he is naughty loves to go into neighbours houses to have a look around, but there are no mice or rats around the houses , I love him , they are such a beautiful cat
Our two, who are neutered and spayed bro and sis, are a ditto of the things you related to. The girly one does not like our Chihuahua. I had to clip her nails a few days ago. I think she is less agressive now. Tiger and Lily are large cats, and tower over the dog.
Great cat’s very energetic luvs attention and good friend
My two Bengals are now 14 yrs old (brother/sister). I’m dreading the day they cross the rainbow bridge because I love them like they were my kids.
I have 2 bengals too…they hate each other!! is like living in a war zone!! but wouldnt swap them for anything
our bengal catches treats in his paws a lovely animal
I have a Bengal cat and he is 4 years old. He his part of the family
I aquired a silver Bengal and she pees everywhere! The vet put her on prozac but she hates is so hides from us now!
I love my bby shea currently missing im so heartbroken shes amazing know loads of tricks and is lots of fun xxx
I like , I love the cats
All 7 fun facts are exact description of our Bengal Jake. He is a F7. Now going on 5 years old soon he is the love of our lives, he loves riding in the RV perched on the dashboard and for sure is a Alpha male. We are getting another same age this fall.
I’ve 6 bengals and we love their antics to bits We have Suffolk latches and they can open all our doors they love to play fetch with an old sock and they are slways talking to us xx
I have one Bengal right now and I am anxiously awaiting a new Bengal :) We are so excited. He’s more like a puppy than a cat! <3
Love my Bengal Khalisse. She will be 2 years old the end of April!!!
Got a boy and two female moggies, Rolo is the boss, but the girls adore him, he looks at them with a look of disgust. In fact he gives us the same look too. Love the breed
Great article. Where could i get one? What should i expect to pay for a Bengal?
They are higher energy, require some play or they will play with your stuff-I have two Bengals. I believe they have more needs-that’s why their are so many in rescues. Great videos on U-tube of Koru and Ukee that gives an idea of their energy. Never let a vet give them Ketamine anesthesia.
Everything you said is true ;)
I want one bengals where I look
I love my Bengal. She stills pens, nail files, and socks.
I had a amazing kitty that was part bengal named Belladonna. She was great played fetch rolled over and did all 7 of these. My Bella thought she was a dog my in-laws had a mini dog that thought she was a cat and those two played none stop. We moved from NC to MD and had a friend watch our Bella for 6 weeks. Our friend told us she went crazy and ran away. We could not find her no matter how hard we looked. I was so devastated that we lost our fur-baby.
Love my Whitley, he was rescued from a border at 7 weeks old and we adopted him at 10 week’s. Very sweet personality, loves to fetch. The water dish was a challenge because he would move it all over the house. We now have a Drinkwell fountian and he has a small bucket outside that he drags around his fenced in yard.
I have two Bengals Anya and Gemma and a Maine coon and a border collie and they get on together like family. I have to say the cats are all better trained than the dog.
These cats are truly beautiful
I love my Bengal…her name is Fradee Pearl. This article describes her perfectly. She is considered a blue color but I swear at times she is brown:)
My Maxwell is 7 pounds of joy. He plays tug of war and fetch. I have stairs and he will even play fetch with himself. Every day when I come home, he rolls over
i would give my eye teeth for one of these i have always wanted one…sigh
I have two Bengals! They are amazing creatures and bring me much joy.
They are a gorgeous breed that is for sure.. I have a grey cat (mom was a cat and dad was a cat), two Norwegian forest cats crossed with I dont know (brother n sister), and our newest addition is a Birman….
“With a little bit of patience, positive reinforcement techniques and some treats, Bengals can be taught simple dog-like tricks such as rolling over, sitting up or jumping through hoops.”
This applies to all cats!