I wanted puddy-cat like tiger.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I just adopted an adorable half Bengal but you would never know he's half!! and he only cost me $100. and he's very very pretty and cool looking. he's so much fun but only at night and most of the time try to wake us during the night to play... so we havnt have a good night sleep since we got him.. and we have to keep our dog lock up so she wont run after the cat at night all night!!

That sounds about right for a Bengal...hehehe

Before you go "buy" some fashinable cat or dog, try visit shelters or look through rescues.. amost of the time you can get the breeds you want and also help safe lives...

We were fortunate to get both of our kitties directly from people who didn't want them anymore but didn't want to put them in a shelter, so they were free and we got their medical histories from the former owners and in the Bengal's case, his breeding papers.

[Nessa 23]

one of our poosy looks like a lion:

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm saving my money for a crossbred human/gorilla child.

[anya-D 8]

hmmmm, wonder what I could fetch for my Bengal cat???

Seriously though, the problem with these hybrid cats and I know from experience with ours is that they do require a bit more attention than your average domestic housecat. That is why our Bengal was given away to us, because his former owners couldn't handle him. You really have to know what you are getting into when you have a cat that still has some wild blood running through them. Yeah, they are gorgeous (of course I'm not biased...hehehe), but they can require more work and attention.

I LOVE my Bengal though!

Sister Fracas, I've been looking at Bengals while secretly hoping hubby will allow me to have one more cat. I've seen a website that showed some rescue or retired Bengals but none that's near me. How much more difficult (compared to other breeds) are they to take care of?

They have a lot of energy that needs to be taken care of. They are extremely curious and intelligent and love interaction with others in the house, be it pet or human. Our Bengal is 8 years old and acts as if he is still a kitten. We literally have to run the energy out of him everyday or he will yowl around the apartment. We let him run up and down our apartment building halls. He absolutely LOVES to be chased and is really fast. Not only does he like to be chased, he likes to chase us and will run and jump at our legs as if he's taking down some big prey or something. LOL If we don't let him run down up and down the halls we have a laser pointer that he chases all over the place, anything to keep him engaged and active. I've lived with several cats and have never had to play with them quite as much as I have to play with him.

He is very strong, muscular, and often doesn't know his own strength and because the people who had him before us declawed him, he has become a biter and when he bites it is like a snake bite puncture.

He loves running water and will come tearing into the bathroom when one of us goes in there, fly over the toilet and onto the sink, waiting for one of us to turn the faucet on so he can drink from it. We partially solved this by getting a running water fountain, but he still likes fresh water from the tap best. And because he comes flying in, he's almost splatted into the toilet because he got so excited.

One bad thing is that we have another cat and the relationship is NOT good, primarily because she doesn't want to have anything to do with him. I think it started out with him being curious, she hisses and because he takes that as aggressive, he constantly stalks her. And this is when I really see the wild in him come out. I've never seen a housecat stalk the way he does, completely focussed on his target (her), and she is no match for him. She's older and doesn't have near the same amount of strength to fight him off. We also rescued her from former owners who had declawed her and I sometimes wish she had claws to scratch him once in the face so that he'd learn to leave her alone. As it is, we have to keep up a 5 foot pet gate to keep them separated when we aren't there to watch them.

When we first got him he was kind of quiet but as his confidence grew, so did his voice and he is very chatty. Because my husband has slight allergies to cats, we keep the cats out of the bedroom and at first it was a source of woe for McCloud (the bengal). He would yowl for ages in front of our door. I knew the worst thing would be to get up to see what was wrong with him, that he'd get use to it, but it took awhile and there were nights where I really had to get up, let him sit in my lap for awhile and then he'd be quiet. He's a big baby for such a big strong cat (16 pounds of pure muscle).

This is just our experience, but I DO know the high energy, high curiosity, high intelligence, love of running water are traits common to Bengals.

Don't get me wrong, he's a handful, but I wouldn't trade him for the world. He provides hours upon hours of entertainment and he is very loving and well as lovable (even when he bites). I know his former owners didn't mistreat him in anyway (well, except for declawing), but I'm glad he became too much for them to handle.

Mine love to be chase by our dog.. he would wait for the dog to see him and run off up and down the stairs (and it's a hard wood stairs so it's very loud) especially at night.. if my dog is tired from the dog park my cat will come up to her, sniff, and my be lick her face and run off to get the dog reaction..

While we sleep he will come up to our face, lick my hands, purr and walks on us and a lot of time sit by our feets and wait till we move (cover in blanket) and he will try to catch 'it' with his claw - a very surprise wakening for me... here is his pic

[almaty 19]

I'm saving my money for a crossbred human/gorilla child.

same here, i heard they are called ewoks....

nice avatar....brother stevie

[eau_xplain 2]

Thanks for the info Sister Fracas!! Sounds like a Bengal is the perfect match for our border collie (mix)! I'm just wondering how our existing cat will react to it.

Anya, yes, I'm actually looking at rescue or "retired" bengals.

[garya505 2]

The Filipina ladies need to change the way they refer to pu$y cats on VJ.

Bad boy!

[anya-D 8]

Anya, yes, I'm actually looking at rescue or "retired" bengals.

I hear you the first time. I'm sure you will find joy in a Bengal and your dog

[~krakatoa~ 27]

one of our poosy looks like a lion:

Aww, what a beauty!

[Nessa 23]

thanks. he's gorgeous. He used to be Charles' cat, but now he loves me more

[Ban Hammer 13,621]

thanks. he's gorgeous. He used to be Charles' cat, but now he loves me more

i told you not to pet him!

[john & jean 37]

i can catch you an old tom cat that lives in the park...about the size of a tiger....see him every night along with the raccoons in my trash cans

WAT THE HELL... for that price I'll get that tom cat and the coons for ya, w/free leashes!!! john&jean

[Mags 112]

I just find it silly to pay $22,000 for an animal. Think how many rescue cats you could give a good life to for that - or even a donation of half of that to a shelter could help out. I dunno, there are enough unwanted cats in the world without people messing with genetics and breeding even more. A cat is a cat - if you're looking for a type (or colour even) then you're after a fashion statement or a "look", not a pet. Adopt a cat for the personality, not what it looks like.

None of my cats have been adopted for the colour, ALL were taken in as strays or because they had wonderful personalities. Their colours or breed were never a factor.

Just my 2cents and I'm not wishing to offend at all.

[mawilson 2,133]

What happened to the ####### in the title?

[Sister Fracas 5]

I just find it silly to pay $22,000 for an animal. Think how many rescue cats you could give a good life to for that - or even a donation of half of that to a shelter could help out. I dunno, there are enough unwanted cats in the world without people messing with genetics and breeding even more. A cat is a cat - if you're looking for a type (or colour even) then you're after a fashion statement or a "look", not a pet. Adopt a cat for the personality, not what it looks like.

None of my cats have been adopted for the colour, ALL were taken in as strays or because they had wonderful personalities. Their colours or breed were never a factor.

Just my 2cents and I'm not wishing to offend at all.

I agree and disagree.

I agree that it is absolutely crazy to spend insane amounts of money to buy a pet and that many of those people are looking for status symbols. And yes, shelter pets can make the best pets in the world.

However, I don't believe that there is anything wrong with liking a particular breed. We got our Bengal privately through people who work where I do. I love the way he looks but I do love his personality too. That's not to say I love him any more than our domestic shorthair. They are both my babies and I couldn't imagine having to give up either of them. They ARE family. But, I don't think there is anything wrong with liking particular breeds, not only for the way they look, but the traits that come along with particular breeds. I'd love to have a German shepherd someday, but I know it won't happen unless there happens to be one at a shelter when we get a dog someday. I also love labradors. I like the look of them and their easy-going personalities. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

Edited March 20, 2008 by Sister Fracas