If you have just brought a Bengal kitten into your family you will have already noticed that they tend to be even more active and playful than a lot of other domestic kittens. Even though all kittens are very active, Bengals just seem to go above and beyond what one might consider to be normal. So, it’s important to note that you need to be prepared for this. Right now, you’re probably wondering if they will ever calm down. In this article we will cover the following:
- Their Personality and Temperament
- Will Your Bengal Kitten Ever Calm Down?
- Keep Them Happy and Out of Trouble
Their Personality and Temperament
The first thing to understand about Bengals is that they are not the perfect cat for every human. It takes a person that has a lot of patience and loves activity. This means that if you are looking for a lazy, calm kitty who loves to do nothing better than snuggle up on your lap, you’re not going to get this from a Bengal kitten or adult.
We’ll go over their personality and temperament in this section a little bit, however, if you would like to learn even more make sure to read more here.
Bengal kittens and adults can be a lot of fun to live with. As mentioned before, they are not the cat for everyone and especially for those who are first time cat owners. These beautiful cats are very intelligent, active, and extremely curious. Kittens and as adults they demand a ton of interaction and attention. If they don’t get this, as a pet parent you could be in for some trouble.
Bengals get bored quite easily, especially when they’re kittens. When they get bored don’t be surprised if they start taking things apart just to see how it works. Often they’ll learn to open up doors and drawers so they can see if there are any interesting toys or food they can take for their own.
Even though they may not like to cuddle a lot, once they bond with their people they love them deeply and are fiercely loyal to them. They also will do almost anything to get their attention. For example, your Bengal might figure out there’s something you don’t like them doing. That could be jumping on the kitchen counter for example and they will begin doing it all the time. Why? Because they realize it gets your attention and makes you interact with them.
Bengals no matter what age are extremely mischievous and love to steal things, especially items that might be bright and shiny. So, it’s a good idea that you keep items like your jewelry put away so that you don’t end up missing items.
Each Bengal kitten is going to develop their own individual personality, however, you will discover that most Bengals will get along well with other pets as long as they are socialized properly. They especially tend to get a long with dogs quite well. Whether or not your dog will is another question.
They are also quite well suited for homes that have older active children who know how to treat pets with care. Bengal kittens love to play with children because they are far more active than their adult counterparts. It’s alright to have toddlers too, but it’s important to make sure that your Bengal has an escape route and a place to go if the toddler gets out of hand.
All Bengals need a lot of vertical space. They love to climb, especially as kittens. The higher space you can give them the better. This is why it’s important that you give them tall cat trees and perches in windows.
Because of their high intelligence they will often love the attention that comes with training them with a clicker. It’s in their best interest and yours if you continue to challenge their brains and keep them interested in life by doing your best to teach them tricks and games. This type of training provides them with the interactive attention that they crave. It’s also good to make sure that you provide your kitten with plenty of interactive toys or puzzle style cat toys that reward them with treats.
Will Your Bengal Kitten Ever Calm Down?
As said before, if you are looking for a kitten that will develop into a calm and lazy cat, you’ve chosen the wrong breed for that. So the simple answer to this question is no.
Yes, Bengal kittens can seem almost a little crazy at time because of the way they just never seem to stop for a minute. They are so active it will make you wonder if they even take time out to crawl into their cat bed to take a cat nap. Of course they do sleep, but it does make you wonder.
As they grow, your Bengal is still going to be extremely active and if you’ve not given them proper training and attention they can truly be a huge handful as an adult. Unless your Bengal is unhealthy you more than likely won’t see much different in their activity levels as an adult as compared to when they were a kitten.
As an adult they’ll be far more coordinated than they were as kittens and that will probably lead to fewer accidents. However, because of their intelligence and their overall nature, they will continue to be the most curious and active cat that you’ve ever had the experience of living with.
Keep Them Happy and Out of Trouble
As you have already discovered, Bengals have a ton of energy. This is why constructive playtime is vital in keeping both you and your Bengal happy. A bored Bengal is going to end up in trouble. If bored they will soon make toys out of things in your home that are expensive and important to you.
Playtime with your kitten and adult Bengal not only lets them burn off that excess energy but it’s also one of the best ways to bond with them and to teach them their boundaries. If they are taught boundaries you’ll be a lot happier. Playing with them is also a great way to keep them in good shape because Bengals do tend to be one of the more heavier breeds of domestic cats you can own.
Here are just a few ideas we have to offer for playtime and bonding with your Bengal.
- Cardboard Boxes – Yes, a simple cardboard box can become a cave for your Bengal. You might be able to keep them entertained for, say, at least five minutes! Make the box even more entertaining by throwing in some crumpled up paper.
- Use Fishing Toys – These are teaser toys that are sticks with long tails on them that you whip around. The motion of these types of toys mimics movement of prey out in the wild. Most Bengals tend to prefer fishing toys that have long furry whips instead of long strings with a toy at the end. These types of toys drive them crazy and they get to use their hunting instincts in the process.
- Cat Trees – There can’t be enough said about providing your Bengal with a good cat tree. It’s important that these cat trees have multiple levels, toys hanging from them and if possible a enclosure for them to hide in. Cat trees also are always a good idea if you have more than one cat, because it’s something that can help keep the peace. At least somewhat. Never put the cat tree in an area that’s away from the activity of your home. It really needs to be put in a busier part of your home. The reason, Bengals always want to be near their pet parents even when they are playing. They’ll never use it if you put it in a boring place for them. They more than likely won’t use it then.
- Laser Pointer – This cheap little device is enjoyed by almost every domestic cat. But, it’s even more intriguing to Bengals. It’s a great way to not only keep your Bengal happy and stimulated but it’s also great fun for you.
Playtime with your Bengal can also be an ideal time to work on their behavior as a kitten. For example if your Bengal kitten is getting way too aggressive stop playing with them. Just drop whatever toy you’re playing with and walk away. It won’t take long for them to understand that they need to calm down if they want you to play with them.
If you happen to play tug of war with your kitten it’s important that you are always the winner. Even though they are your companion and part of the family, you are responsible for both them and their behavior and they need to learn that you are in charge, not them.
You need to be aware of any kind of behavior that’s attention seeking at an early age. So, if your kitten learns to jump on your kitchen counters to try and get your attention, you need to curb that behavior right away. All you need to do is say in a firm tone “No.” and then put them down on the floor and go back to whatever it was you were doing. Continue to do this until they understand that this is inappropriate behavior, and they will if you stick with it.
When trying to curb bad behavior, never yell at your Bengal and never ever hit them. This will only create fear and distrust in them.
So did this help you better understand if a Bengal kitten will ever calm down? Please let us know what you think by leaving us a comment.
