Pets
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Anyone have experience we bengal or bengal mixes?
Recently, SIL bought a bengal mix kitten for DS 1 as a birthday present. He is the sweetest most loving kitten/cat we have ever known. So far, he is very smart, wasn't anything to litter box train, loves our dogs and the kids. Seems to be very tolerant of everything around him. The only downside to his personality is he is very curious, not afraid of anything, and loves water. (We have a pool so this is why it would be a downside.)
Any thoughts, advice, or info to share on this breed would be great! I've done some reading up but haven't gotten to much into things. I'm just glad he is fitting in with our busy family and I think he will do just fine! We are going to have him neutered on the 15th and hopefully he'll do fine with that as well.
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Re: Anyone have experience we bengal or bengal mixes?
Ditto keeping him inside.
Did you know in advance about this "gift?"
Double ditto to keeping him inside. Outdoor cats have a shorter lifespan than indoor-only cats.
ETA: Just saw the part about the kitty being curious. This really isn't a breed thing (though I suppose some breeds may be more curious than others), it's a kitten thing. Yes, it can be annoying at times when you are trying to keep the cat safe, but it is also one of the most endearing things about kitties. Try to enjoy it!
Did a quick Google search and apparently love of water is a common Bengal trait.
Yes I knew in advance. I told her she could get him whatever and I'm fine with that. We have plenty of area inside and out for a kitten. Our "landlords" (which are my parents) adopted 3 cats from a shelter and 2 of them are now MIA, we have a hawk in the area but we can't be sure, and now when they're cat comes to visit he isn't so depressed anymore and acts like big daddy cat to the kitten. Very cute.
Wait. Are you saying you know there is a hawk in the area and you are still going to let the kitten outside? After two cats have already gone missing? I'm a little confused by your post.
It's not about having "plenty of area" outside, it's about the safety of the cat.
And it's great that your parents' cat loves the kitty, but be aware that since your parents' cat is an outdoor cat, the kitty can catch parasites and even diseases from him.
Please don't let the kitten outside. It's a heartbreak waiting to happen.
Of course I'm not going to let the kitten outside! And yes I know we are taking a risk with the other cat here, however he is up to date on all shots and I don't feel he is in any danger. If I didn't I wouldn't have allowed him here in the first place.
I'm sorry, I was just confused because you said you were worried about the pool and that you have plenty of area "inside and out" for a kitten. ??
I meant if we decided to let him out when he is older, no way would I let a baby outside that young by himself, I wouldn't do it to my animals either.
Ditto this.
An outdoor cat's life is drastically shorter than an indoor cat's life.
I may have been unclear, no cat, adult or kitten should be allowed outside. There is exposure to FIV and FeLv, wild animals, neighbors dogs (unfortunately not everyone keeps their dogs where they are supposed to), parasites, cars, and a lot of toxins. Cats have a tendency to eat plants that are toxic and they also have a tendency to like antifreeze.
Bengals are awesome but require a lot of mental stimulation so I'd be looking into puzzle toys and would have scheduled playtime, 30 minutes or so, with feline flyer, da bird, etc. My friend has two and they are very cool, but require more work than your average domestic shorthair.
Really? Because I have a 20 year old cat that has been indoor/outdoor his whole life and he has been (and is still doing great!).
The plural of anecdote is not data.
While everyone's approach to their pets is different, most people (here) agree that keeping cats indoors is best. A cat we got when I was in high school ended up being indoor/outdoor because he was a bolter and my mom just decided her life was easier letting him roam when he wanted. He always came home, but he had evidence of fights with other animals (and he was front-declawed, not helping his situation) and he picked up a disease.
That's not to say every indoor/outdoor cat will end up in fights or getting sick, but the chances of them being safe from these things are 100% when kept indoors, and 50/50 at best outside. Add in the dangers of cars, other animals, and plain out cruel human beings (haven't you seen news stories of cats being tortured by horrible people who found them?), and I'll never be comfortable letting my cats outside no matter how much they want to get out there (and both my current kitties try to escape/venture outside on a regular basis).
It's an odds thing. The odds of them living longer, healthier lives inside are far higher than the odds of that being the case for indoor/outdoor. Your kitty has been a lucky one!
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
So far this week I've heard of two cat deaths at the hands of neighbors dogs who were roaming. Can a cat live a long life if its allowed outdoors? Yes. But the odds are not as good as if the cat were indoor only.
Ha, I love this!