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As a lot of people know, Bengal cats are descended from the wild Asian Leopard by first breeding them with domestic cats sometime in the 1940’s and it wasn’t until the 1970’s that they first made their appearance here in North America. This means that it’s probably one of the newest cat breeds known to man at this point in time. Because of this, many people misunderstand who they are and what they are like. Here we will give you a little more information on the temperament of Bengal cats.
One of the first things you will discover about Bengal cats is that they are a lot of fun to have as a member of your family. However, this does not mean that they are meant for everyone. If you are expecting a cat that’s going to be happy just laying around and being lazy most of the day, then a Bengal cat is definitely not for you. You need to be aware that they love to play, explore, follow you around so they can get involved with what you are doing. They are extremely active and much more inquisitive than most other domesticated cats.
Bengals are probably the most playful cat you’ll ever see and they have a huge desire and need to be able to interact with whatever is going on in their environment. Because of their never ending need to satisfy their curiosity, a Bengal cat will never leave you bored. You don’t have to do much for them to entertain you. This is why it’s important that you give them plenty of things that will keep their interest during the day to keep them from getting bored. Otherwise you might end up with broken items and destroyed furniture because they’re simply bored.
Bengal cats need to interact with their owners so it’s important that as an owner you pay attention to that need. Often they will do things that might be considered misbehavior just because it gets their owners attention, so it’s important that you allow them to have places of their own and plenty of toys that the two of you can spend time interacting with.
When you have a Bengal cat in your home there will never be a dull moment that’s for sure. They’ll amuse you with their incredible antics like their lack of fear of water for one. You might walk into the kitchen one day and find your Bengal cat dropping their food into their water bowl and then slapping their paws in the water just for the fun of it. Don’t be surprised to see your cat in your kitchen sink, especially if the water is dripping from the faucet. Water just seems to truly intrigue them. You also might want to keep the lid down on your toilet, this tends to be a real favorite of many Bengals. The toilet is something that often they tend to play in and because they are so intelligent many of them can teach themselves to flush it just so they can watch the swirling water go down.
Don’t be surprised if some things of yours end up missing on occasion. You might think you’ve misplaced your keys or some other small object and then suddenly find these lost items in really strange places. Well, Bengal cat alert! More than likely you didn’t misplace the item but your Bengal cat stole it from you and hid it. Bengals love to steal items, especially shiny items that peak their interest and then hide them in their own secret places. Some owners when they find their lost items will often find little stock piles of shiny items that have been missing. Life with a Bengal cat is never boring.
Bengal cats are probably the most intelligent of all domestic cats and this is yet another reason why they can be so fun to live with. Combine their intelligence with their curiosity and you have yourself a cat that is continually trying to figure things out.
Don’t think that things are safe if they’re put away in cupboards and drawers because if a Bengal cat is curious enough, they are going to figure out a way to get to whatever you think you might be hiding from them. Check out this little Bengal cat easily figuring out how to open up a drawer.
Because of their high intellect, these cats need to have toys that are interactive as well as puzzle solving. By giving them toys like this it will help satisfy their intellectual needs and at the same time keep you immensely entertained.
Just because Bengal cats are not known for wanting to lay in your lap doing nothing all day, doesn’t mean that they don’t show love and loyalty. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Bengal cats are extremely loyal and can be very loving.
Their owners are very important to them and they show their love in a variety of different ways. One of the most obvious ways that they show their love is by always wanting to be by their side and getting involved with whatever it is their owner is doing. They will follow them in the kitchen and try to help out with whatever is going on. They love to be with their owners when they are taking a shower or a bath and quite often will want to jump right in with them.
Bengal cats especially love to show how they feel by communicating with their owners with a variety of different chirps and meows. This is a wonderful way for them to let their owner know just how much they love being around them and being involved with them whenever they can.
Don’t be misled by the fact that Bengals don’t tend to be “lap cats” or just lazy cats who do nothing but bask in the sun. Many people often believe because they don’t seem to like to lay in laps means they don’t like to cuddle. This is so not true. When a Bengal cat is in the mood to show some love to their owners, nothing is going to stop them. When they do get in the mood, they love to rub against their owners and then snuggle up with them on the couch, a comfy chair and especially in bed. Many Bengals truly enjoy being allowed to spend time with their owners in the comfort of their beds with comfy blankets and pillows. So, don’t worry, your Bengal cat will take time out for those special moments when they just want alone time with the most important person in their lives.
As for loyalty, you probably won’t find a domestic cat anywhere that is more fiercely loyal than a Bengal. Once they have become part of the family they will defend and protect what they feel is rightfully theirs and they will always show their loyalty to those in their family. They may be friendly to visitors but they would never abandon the one they love for someone they just met. With a Bengal cat, you have a friend for life.
So did this article help you better understand the temperament and personality of the Bengal Cat? Please let us know what you think by posting your comment below!
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