cat - BENGAL cats

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- - BENGAL cats (http://www.catbanter.com/showthread.php?t=26496)

Has anyone here owned a good Bengal or ... even a Bengal mix? I've met some
Bengals at Jean Mills cattery in Covina (CA) and was taken by the handsome
markings and their highly active nature. But I'd like to hear from those
who have lived with one (or more) about their personalities ... specifically
where box training and daily temperment are concerned as a house only cat.

Thanks.

"Philip" wrote in message
link.net...
Has anyone here owned a good Bengal or ... even a Bengal mix? I've met
some
Bengals at Jean Mills cattery in Covina (CA) and was taken by the handsome
markings and their highly active nature. But I'd like to hear from those
who have lived with one (or more) about their personalities ...
specifically
where box training and daily temperment are concerned as a house only cat.

Thanks.

I believe a poster with the nym "Orchid" had Bengals. There has been a
great deal of discussion about them here so you might want to do
a Google search on this group. There are plenty of full-bred and
part Bengals at shelters everywhere--perhaps some people do
not like their high activity levels. One nice thing about a cat
that has been in a no-kill shelter for a few months is that you
know they have good elimination habits and have been well
socialized to people and cats.

If you go he

http://www.petfinder.com/

you can put in your zip code or city and see photos of the
available Bengal mixes in your area. You could save money
and do a nice thing at the same time.

Just something to think about.

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 12:35:30 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:

I believe a poster with the nym "Orchid" had Bengals.

Has. Temujin and Kefka are alive, well, and Temujin is sacked
out on my lap after playing 'chase my brother around the house 20
times'.

There has been a
great deal of discussion about them here so you might want to do
a Google search on this group.

I responded to the OP in alt.cats, but I reiterate advice here
to read my 'Top Ten Reasons You Don't Want A Bengal'. I love them,
but many people would not.

There are plenty of full-bred and
part Bengals at shelters everywhere--perhaps some people do
not like their high activity levels. One nice thing about a cat
that has been in a no-kill shelter for a few months is that you
know they have good elimination habits and have been well
socialized to people and cats.

If the OP is just after the coat pattern of a Bengal, that's a
not bad idea. Actually, if the OP is just after the older coat
pattern, that'll work. You're not going to find a cat like this at a
shelter, and if you do, snap him up because he won't be there long.

http://www.wildlovebengals.com/studs.html

If the OP is after the full package, I'd recommend either
Bengal Rescue and a known purebreed or a responsible breeder. Either
way, I strongly recommend the OP joining Bengals-L (a yahoo group) to
connect with other owners and responsible breeders who can help with
breed quirks.

Orchid
See Orchid's Kitties! -- http://nik.ascendancy.net/bengalpage
Want a Purebred Cat? Read This! -- http://nik.ascendancy.net/orchid

Mary wrote:
"Philip" wrote in message
link.net...
Has anyone here owned a good Bengal or ... even a Bengal mix? I've
met some Bengals at Jean Mills cattery in Covina (CA) and was taken
by the handsome markings and their highly active nature. But I'd
like to hear from those who have lived with one (or more) about
their personalities ... specifically where box training and daily
temperment are concerned as a house only cat.

Thanks.

I believe a poster with the nym "Orchid" had Bengals. There has been a
great deal of discussion about them here so you might want to do
a Google search on this group. There are plenty of full-bred and
part Bengals at shelters everywhere--perhaps some people do
not like their high activity levels. One nice thing about a cat
that has been in a no-kill shelter for a few months is that you
know they have good elimination habits and have been well
socialized to people and cats.

If you go he

http://www.petfinder.com/

you can put in your zip code or city and see photos of the
available Bengal mixes in your area. You could save money
and do a nice thing at the same time.

Just something to think about.

Mary: Thank you for your response. I DID find one Bengal that caught my
attention yesterday on petfinder. Truly an interesting service, Petfinder.
You raise a good point that had not occured to me. A "no-kill' shelter
would have civilized a box phobic Bengal in short order. The "wild' streak
in Bengals (the asian leopard cat) raises a yellow flag to me where box
training is concerned. Apparently an F4 is about the level they "get it"
about peeing in a box only.

When I visited Mrs. Mills's cattery, I saw some really interesting
behaviors. I saw four different cats using tread mill wheels on their own
.... just like a caged hamster does! Others exhibited the wild cat heavy
breathing before they growled. All very very active.

Orchid wrote:
On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 12:35:30 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:

I believe a poster with the nym "Orchid" had Bengals.

Has. Temujin and Kefka are alive, well, and Temujin is sacked
out on my lap after playing 'chase my brother around the house 20
times'.

There has been a
great deal of discussion about them here so you might want to do
a Google search on this group.

I responded to the OP in alt.cats, but I reiterate advice here
to read my 'Top Ten Reasons You Don't Want A Bengal'. I love them,
but many people would not.

There are plenty of full-bred and
part Bengals at shelters everywhere--perhaps some people do
not like their high activity levels. One nice thing about a cat
that has been in a no-kill shelter for a few months is that you
know they have good elimination habits and have been well
socialized to people and cats.

If the OP is just after the coat pattern of a Bengal, that's a
not bad idea. Actually, if the OP is just after the older coat
pattern, that'll work. You're not going to find a cat like this at a
shelter, and if you do, snap him up because he won't be there long.

http://www.wildlovebengals.com/studs.html

If the OP is after the full package, I'd recommend either
Bengal Rescue and a known purebreed or a responsible breeder. Either
way, I strongly recommend the OP joining Bengals-L (a yahoo group) to
connect with other owners and responsible breeders who can help with
breed quirks.

Orchid
See Orchid's Kitties! -- http://nik.ascendancy.net/bengalpage
Want a Purebred Cat? Read This! -- http://nik.ascendancy.net/orchid

Orchid: Thank you for your response. I will check alt.cats for your post
and "'Top Ten Reasons You Don't Want A Bengal'. I'm NOT looking primarily
for a handsome cat. I am looking for another *interactive* indoor only cat.
My last tabby of 14 yrs passed on recently due to an enlarged heart.
Wondering if Bengals keep their claws retracted when playing around with
adult people, is rather bold with visitors, reasonably vocal, and possess
robust health.

I'll look for your Top Ten ...

Thanks

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 19:15:23 GMT, "Philip"
wrote:

Orchid: Thank you for your response. I will check alt.cats for your post
and "'Top Ten Reasons You Don't Want A Bengal'. I'm NOT looking primarily
for a handsome cat. I am looking for another *interactive* indoor only cat.

Heh. Bengals certainly are interactive. They are great
helpers around the house. Especially when one is doing dishes. They
*love* helping then.

My last tabby of 14 yrs passed on recently due to an enlarged heart.

I'm terribly sorry. :(

Wondering if Bengals keep their claws retracted when playing around with
adult people,

If taught to do so. Bengals, like any other cat, dog, or
other pet, need to be taught bite and claw inhibition. My boys have
never deliberately scratched anyone. They keep claws in (though there
are the occasional accidents) and bite gently (we taught inhibition,
not aversion though Bengals learn either equally well).

is rather bold with visitors,

The welcoming committee of my house is two 13 pound Bengals
and an almost 7 pound moggy who thinks he's a Bengal. They have never
met a stranger -- everyone is simply their new best friend.
My boys are also therapy cats, and go to nursing homes and
hospitals.

reasonably vocal,

That's something I keep meaning to add to the list. Bengals
are talkative and have very distinctive voices. They are happy to
carry on a conversation with you.

and possess robust health.

Responsible breeders are starting to test for HCM because it
has shown up in the breed. Not in overwhelming numbers, but enough
that good breeders are being careful. Other than that, it is a
remarkably robust breed.

I'll look for your Top Ten ...

Please note that all of the traits I am talking about appear
in well bred, well socialised Bengals. You *must* do your research
and you *must* use a responsible breeder to get these traits. It's
best to use a breeder who lives near enough to you that you can visit
them and meet their cats.

Read my Guide to Finding a Responsible Breeder too, and follow
it. (it's in my .sig) Get on Bengals-L and start talking to people.
I'll be glad to give you a hand too if you still decide you want one
after reading the reasons why you wouldn't.

If you're not dead set on a kitten, seriously consider Bengal
Rescue or a retired show/breeding cat.

Orchid
See Orchid's Kitties! -- http://nik.ascendancy.net/bengalpage
Want a Purebred Cat? Read This! -- http://nik.ascendancy.net/orchid

On Thu 21 Apr 2005 10:19:40a, Philip wrote in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav
hlink.net):

Has anyone here owned a good Bengal or ... even a Bengal mix?
I've met some Bengals at Jean Mills cattery in Covina (CA) and
was taken by the handsome markings and their highly active
nature. But I'd like to hear from those who have lived with one
(or more) about their personalities ... specifically where box
training and daily temperment are concerned as a house only cat.

Thanks.

Hi Phillip. I have a pair of 8 month olds that were found as tiny
kittens with 2 others that look and act amazingly like Bengals. The
male more than the female (female cats can have litters with more
than a single mate) When I was told it was likely they are at
least a mix, I was scared. LOL. I've read Orchid's articles and
website, and the energy of these cats seemed like too much for me.
However, its been a blast so far. Yes, both of them are
mischievious (well, most kittens are anyway! ;)) but they do team
up to get in trouble, too. They play in water and I tried an
experiment with a kitchen sink partially filled with cool water and
waited to see 1) if they'd find it (of course they would. I can't
keep them out of the sink) and 2) what they'd do. Well, they both
got almost completely in the sink playing in it. Got soaked! I
tried this because they always try to get in my shower with me.

Rhett plays fetch and I caught it on a short video:
http://home.comcast.net/~shambondow/P2050008.MOV

I can't keep them off of shelves, even if the shelves are full and
look like they have no place to land; they ALWAYS find a place to
land. ;) In fact, I can't keep them off of anything they want to
jump on.

As far as being affectionate, they both are very affectionate.
Rhett has the loudest rumbly purr I've ever heard and Scarlett is a
total lapcat. But, she's also the most fearless of the two, ready
to investigate anything and always the one getting in my way when I
vaccum.

I have 2 other cats, and when I chose these two from the litter of
four found abandoned (by their mom, or she met with bad fate - she
was apparently either a stray or a feral) I had one of my other two
in mind. He is a wild boy, a bully, and needed a companion who
could keep up with him, and wouldn't be easily frightened by his
nature. These two fit the bill perfectly. Rhett and Shamrock
wrestle and chase each other, while Scarlett tags along. My 4th is
a former feral trapped in my yard and is easily spooked. She has
totally bonded with Rhett, the likely Bengal (mix). I adore all of
them.

Here are pics of the kittens and the second link is an album just
of Rhett that I sent to Orchid who said they (or at least Rhett) is
likely at least part Bengal (I really need to get some new ones
up!):
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shambo...r=1f98&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shambo...r=8768&.src=ph

--
Cheryl

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited
breath."
- W.C. Fields