The Bengal cat, as a breed, is pretty well known for driving their human family members up the wall. If a person decides to bring home a Bengal cat without fully understanding the breed, they may end up with more than they can handle.
You see, Bengal cats are an incredibly active breed and they need a lot of exercise and play to keep their energy levels at a maintainable level. Bengal cats are also very intelligent, investigative, and persistent creatures. Knowing this, they not only have to be physically exercised and stimulated but mentally as well.
If a Bengal cat’s physical and mental needs aren’t met, many things can happen. Not only will a Bengal cat become increasingly vocal and active within the house, but they may also start marking their territory, pooping in the house all of a sudden, or engaging in aggressive play/behaviors such as digging their claws into you. They can even start constantly getting on top of things they shouldn’t or getting into places they shouldn’t.
These behaviors can be frustrating for just about anyone. But what can you do to stop it? Can you discipline a Bengal cat? And if not, how are you going to put an end to these irritating and exasperating behaviors? Don’t worry, all the answers are below!
Can you discipline a Bengal cat? If so, how?
One of the biggest questions that comes to the mind of a flustered Bengal cat owner is how they can discipline their cat. Well, simply put, you shouldn’t discipline your Bengal cat with punishment.
This means you should never yell at, physically harm, or starve your cat. Cats are unable to understand that their human family can be upset with any of their behaviors. I mean, after all, they are just being cats, right?
This being said, any disciplinary actions that people take against their cats, including Bengal cats, can put a strain on their relationship. The more a cat is disciplined, the more its relationship with its owner is going to deteriorate.
So if you can’t punish your Bengal cat, how do you get it to stop with the bad behaviors? Well, lucky for you, there are a few different things that you can do to help put a stop to your Bengal cat’s frustrating behaviors.
Additionally, if you have a bengal cat, you should check out my article on the best cat litter for bengals.
How to discipline a Bengal cat?
The best way to discipline a Bengal cat is by physical activity, providing an enriching habitat, and redirection with toys.
- Be sure you are providing your Bengal cat with enough physical and mental stimulation. This will include playing with your cat and making sure that it is using all of its muscles. You can even take your Bengal cat on a walk outside! Just be sure that you put it on a leash.
When it comes to keeping your Bengal cat mentally stimulated, try hiding bits and pieces of food or treats around a room for your cat to find. This will act as a scavenger hunt and will have your Bengal cat using all of its brain.
- Make sure that the environment you live in is enriching for the Bengal cat. This means you should have lots of places to jump on, climb on, or even hide in! Some Bengal cat owners will even purchase running wheels to keep their Bengal busy and entertained.
- Try redirecting your Bengal cat’s behavior to something more satisfactory. If one of the frustrating behaviors your Bengal cat is exhibiting is aggressive play/behaviors, you might want to try redirection. To redirect your Bengal cat, you should grab a toy nearby that your cat likes.
This toy should be one that your Bengal cat can romp around with and isn’t too small. Anytime your Bengal cat starts to get a bit too aggressive, give him the toy to play with. Keep this up until eventually, your Bengal learns that he is able to only play rough with their toys!
If you need help choosing a toy, check out my article on the best toys for cats home alone.
More on the Bengal Cat
Most house cats are simply domesticated long hair, short hair, or medium hair cats, mixes of so many breeds that people stopped keeping track. But there are some purebred cats out there such as Siamese, Maine Coon, Persian, Siberian, Ragdoll, and Sphinx. No matter what kind of cat a person has, they are in for a creature with a wild personality that can get up to some crazy antics. And one of the most notorious breeds of cats that have a bigger-than-life attitude is the gorgeous Bengal cat.
Bengal cats weren’t initially a pure breed, but in 1991 they were fully recognized. Bengals are beautiful cats with a spotted fur coat that can shine and gleam brightly if kept clean. The pattern on the fur of a Bengal cat is very similar to the pattern of many wild cat’s coats. This is one of the main things that draws people so strongly to the breed.
