Bengal Cat Personality: Five Things You Need to Know

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Easily identified, thanks to their exotic and distinctive coat, Bengal cats are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. If you are considering shelling out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for your very own gorgeous Bengal cat, you should first have a good understanding of what to expect in regards to his or her personality. Here are the top 5 things you need to know about the Bengal cat’s personality.

1. Unlike some other domestic cat breeds, Bengal cats tend to become active members of the household.

It’s not unusual to come across a cat that either sleeps all day or essentially ignores you, but this isn’t usually the case with Bengals. Bengals are better known for their lively and dynamic personality. For instance, they are prone to “helping” their owners look through cabinets and even answer doorbells. Just be aware that Bengals love interacting with others, so this might not be the cat for you if you plan to leave him or her alone for long periods throughout the day. Thanks to their boredom and curiosity, they tend to explore their surroundings, such as rummaging through cabinets or trying to dig through couch cushions, in an effort to entertain themselves. Also, because of their desire for frequent interaction, you shouldn’t be surprised if your Bengal starts doing things he or she knows they will get in trouble for, such as lounging on the countertops. After all, negative attention is still attention.

2. They are highly intelligent.

Bengal cats are smart and tend to enjoy engaging in activities that challenge their brain. You can do this by teaching them tricks, providing them with interactive toys or puzzles, and playing games with them. As an added bonus, Bengals are almost always easy to train. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that when you scold your Bengal, you show him or her plenty of affection afterwards.

3. Despite their legacy, they are far from aggressive.

It’s not unusual for people to automatically assume that Bengals are fierce and aggressive. This is largely due to the breed originating from undomesticated cats. Fortunately, this is far from the case. The truth is Bengal cats tend to be mild-mannered when dealing with people, especially if they are handled by humans from a young age. In fact, they are really no more likely to lash out aggressively or defensively than any other cat. However, you should be aware that because of their hyperactivity and tendency to gallop and jump around the house, there is always the risk of an accidental scratch.

4. They usually love to play with others.

Bengals are definitely personable. In addition to playing well with other cats, especially other Bengals that can match their activity level, they tend to have no problem getting along with dogs and children. That being said, Bengals can be resistant to change, meaning you’ll want to introduce them into a home that already has other pets, rather than allowing him or her to get comfortable as the only pet and then bringing someone new in.

5. They are playful.

By now it should be quite obvious that Bengals are playful cats, but here’s something you may not know. Bengals often enjoy playing in the water. While taking a shower or bath, you might find your Bengal perched along the edge of the bathtub batting at the water. They also have the tendency use their paw to splash around in glasses of water or their water bowl, as well as completely turn it over.