Bengal Cat Care: Understanding Bengal Cats

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The health of our Bengal cats and kittens is paramount in our breeding program. All of our cats in our cattery are regularly assessed, tested, and screened to ensure optimal Bengal cat health. We are proud advocates for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKDef), and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRB-b) screening, which helps guarantee that all of our Bengals are free from these genetic diseases. Additionally, we screen for FIV/FeLV as well as Feline Panleukopenia, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Giardia, Toxoplasma, and Tritrichomonas, all of which contribute to the overall well-being of our cats. Understanding Bengal cat nutrition and temperament is also vital to providing them with a healthy and happy life.

What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that affects Bengal cat health by causing the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken. This thickening decreases the heart’s efficiency and can create symptoms in other parts of the body. In a cat with HCM, the heart’s left ventricle, its primary “pump muscle,” becomes thickened, leading to a reduction in the volume of the heart chamber and to abnormal relaxation of the heart muscle. These changes can cause the heart to beat rapidly, resulting in increased oxygen usage and potentially leading to oxygen starvation of the heart muscle. Such oxygen deprivation may cause heart cells to die off, worsening heart function and increasing the risk of arrhythmias, where the heart beats too rapidly, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm. Additionally, inefficient blood pumping may cause a backup of blood to the other chambers of the heart and to the lungs, contributing to the development of congestive heart failure or blood clots. We ensure that all of our adult cats are screened annually for HCM to promote optimal Bengal cat health.

What is PRA-b?

Bengal Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-b) is an inherited eye disease specifically affecting the Bengal cat. This condition is characterized by progressive blindness that begins around 7 weeks of age and slowly worsens until the cat experiences significant vision impairment by around two years of age. The trait of inheritance is autosomal recessive, meaning that both male and female cats can be affected, but a cat must inherit two copies of the mutation—one from each parent—to develop the disease. Carrier cats remain healthy but can pass the mutation to their offspring. In our cattery, neither males nor females carry the mutation, ensuring that there is a zero chance that the kittens we breed will have PRA-b.

What is PKDef?

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKDef) is another inherited condition that impacts Bengal cat health by affecting the pyruvate kinase enzyme, which is crucial for red blood cell energy metabolism. A deficiency in this enzyme can lead to hemolytic anemia. In some cases, the anemia may be mild and only intermittently detectable, while in others, it may not become evident until the cat is older. A severe life-threatening anemia can also develop. This disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, so only cats with two copies of the defective gene are affected. Carrier cats are clinically healthy but can pass the defective gene to their offspring. As with PRA-b, we conduct genetic testing on all our breeding animals for this condition. Neither males nor females in our cattery are carriers, ensuring that the kittens we breed will have no chance of being affected by PKDef.

What is FIV/FeLV?

FIV, or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, is a retrovirus infection often likened to cat HIV or cat AIDS due to its similar effects on felines. FIV-positive cats may harbor the virus for years without showing signs of illness. The virus targets cells in a cat's immune system, particularly white blood cells, leading to a gradual weakening of the immune system. This makes FIV-positive cats vulnerable to secondary infections. FeLV, or Feline Leukemia Virus, is a viral infection that can lead to cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia, weakening the immune systems of affected cats and making them more susceptible to infections. This disease is relatively common and spreads through a cat’s saliva, feces, urine, and milk, with pregnant cats capable of passing it to their unborn kittens. Young kittens are at the highest risk, but adult cats can also be affected. All cats in our cattery have tested negative for both FIV and FeLV, and we ensure that all our kittens are vaccinated against FeLV before they go to their forever homes.

Furthermore, all of our breeding Bengals receive full vaccinations and annual boosters for feline calicivirus, feline herpes virus, feline panleucopenia virus, and FeLV, in addition to being regularly wormed and treated for fleas to support their overall health and well-being, which contributes to their good temperament.

The temperament of our breeding males and females is extremely important to us, as it directly impacts the overall Bengal cat health and behavior. Our kittens are born and raised in our home, thriving amidst the chaos of normal living, including our husky, our other pet cats, and our four children aged 1 to 18 years old. While a kitten's temperament is largely influenced by their environment, genetics from their parents also play a crucial role. Therefore, we carefully select our breeding cats and raise them in a lively family setting to gauge what kind of personality your kitten will have, whether it be outgoing and fearless or slightly cautious. All of our kittens are at least F5 or F6, meaning they are five to six generations removed from an Asian Leopard Cat, which contributes to a more domesticated temperament. This ensures that they are more likely to adapt to a domestic home life compared to earlier generations. Although we take extensive precautions to select for temperament in our breeding cats and employ a thorough socialization approach, we may still encounter the occasional slightly cautious kitten. These kittens may take a little more time to adjust to a new environment but will ultimately be just as loving, affectionate, and cuddly as their more outgoing siblings.

When it comes to choosing a male or female kitten, many might wonder about the differences between them. A common misconception is that male kittens are more loving than females; however, that is simply not true. Our breeding program boasts some of the most affectionate females alongside equally loving males. All of our breeding animals enjoy sitting on your lap while you watch TV in the evening, purring contentedly. If you work from home like we do, you’ll find them happily perched on your shoulder or next to your computer as you work. The only noticeable difference we’ve observed between male and female kittens is their size, as males are generally larger. Both genders can exhibit a range of personalities, from cautious analysts to reckless hooligans, or anything in between. There’s no definitive rule regarding male versus female behavior; it all comes down to their individual personalities. Thanks to our breeding lines and socialization methods, we very rarely have shy kittens. If a shy kitten does appear in a litter, we find that it’s often due to sibling rivalry, and once placed in their new home, they transform into a different kitten. Additionally, we ensure all our kittens receive proper Bengal cat nutrition and are neutered or spayed at a young age to prevent hormones from influencing their temperament.

Bengal cats, being obligate carnivores, thrive on a high-protein diet primarily consisting of meat, with lean meat and organs serving as excellent sources for their nutrition. To ensure optimal Bengal cat health, they require adequate animal protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, while avoiding commercial foods that are high in carbohydrates. Ideally, a raw diet is best for your Bengal cat, which should include meat, bone, and organs. However, let's be honest—not everyone has the time to prepare this. Therefore, the next best option for your Bengal baby would be a grain-free, gluten-free, limited ingredient diet. We prioritize high-quality wet or dry cat food (mostly wet!) that includes a single, easily digestible protein source like chicken, duck, or fish, while steering clear of grains, corn, wheat, and soy. For our adult Bengal cats, we offer various options such as Instinct Limited Ingredient or Ultimate Protein, Taste of the Wild Prey, and Merrick Limited Ingredient. For pregnant females, nursing moms, and kittens, we recommend Royal Canin Mother and Baby Cat, but most of the time, we prefer to feed raw. Ideally, raw food is the best choice. Relying solely on dry food can lead to dehydration, which may result in kidney failure. Unfortunately, cats often do not show signs of kidney failure until 70-75% of their kidney function is lost, at which point it may be too late. Young cats that start off on dry kibble might lead a normal, healthy life, but studies indicate that as these Bengal cats reach adulthood, they age and develop degenerative diseases at an accelerated rate. In contrast, those fed a non-processed, natural diet age more slowly and, importantly, do not develop degenerative diseases. This is why wet or raw food is the best option for maintaining optimal Bengal cat health and nutrition.

Socializing our kittens is a vital part of raising them, and our children play a very important role in this process. The health and emotional wellbeing of our kittens and adults are largely dependent on how we care for them in the first few weeks of their life, which is crucial for ensuring their Bengal cat health. The development of behavior relies on both genetic factors, as discussed in the Bengal cat temperament section, and environmental influences. Between the ages of 2 to 7 weeks, known as the 'sensitive' period, key socialization occurs, and relationships based on familiarity are formed during this time. From the moment our kittens are born, they are handled by me; they are touched all over and lifted frequently. Once the kittens reach 4 weeks old and are a bit more robust, our children are allowed to play with them too, creating a very exciting experience for both children and kittens. Research shows that kittens handled by four or five different individuals before seven weeks will exhibit more sociable behavior towards people as adult cats, and they are more inclined to initiate social interactions. In contrast, cats handled by only one person tend to be particularly affectionate towards that individual but may view other humans with suspicion and show a tendency to avoid them. We raise our kittens in high foot traffic areas of our home, ensuring they interact not just with us and our children but also with friends and family. They are also exposed to non-threatening objects and activities typical in a busy household, such as TVs, vacuums, mops, and DIY projects. Our goal is for our kittens to feel mentally prepared for their departure and to settle into their new homes quickly, bonding with their new owners. We believe that our approach to socialization maximizes the kittens' ability to adjust to their new environments, reduces stress and anxiety during the transition, and ultimately contributes to their overall Bengal cat nutrition and wellbeing. We dedicate a lot of time, effort, and love into each individual kitten.