Hello everyone! I have had a rescue bengal now for about 10 weeks (6yr old male brown spot). Baptism of fire is an understatement! Having had cats all my life I naively thought I could cope with anything. I saw this poor bengal who needed a new family. He needed experience owners.......me I thought!!!!!!!!!. Having met the main requirements of the rescue centre of working from home and having a very large garden, we were allowed to give him a new home (he had been in the rescue centre for about 3 months and was apparently pretty wild when he arrived). I can honestly say that I have never met a cat quite like a bengal!!!!! It has taken me all this time to figure him out, help him adjust and try and make his new life a happy one. There were a few teething problems...... he chose to wee in the corner of a couple of bedrooms and sprayed twice. Hopefully that is now sorted by having two litter trays downstairs and one upstairs. I have probably now spent enough money on toys and cat towers to bankrupt a small country!!! I love him to bits, he is affectionate and loving but also has that wild streak! My what big claws you have!!!!! I must also admit to having a couple of confidence issues with my beautiful boy. A few times I have thought that I'm just not experienced enough to deal with this cat. I have spent hours on this wonderful forum reading all your funny, serious, sad etc posts. I have learnt so much from you all in the short time of having my gorgeous Oscar.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your Oscar. Bengals are not like your normal cat, as you have found out. They are a challenge, but in a good way. You'll learn a lot from this forum and once Oscar settles in, he will be the delight of your life. Bengals do have a wild streak. Make sure you've got a cat tree for him to climb or shelves or bookcases -- bengals want to be high up in the air. There are a lot of great ideas of catifying your home to make your bengal happier. I'm happy you picked up on the extra litter boxes. If you have a multiple story home, you need at least two -- and really, the more, the better.

Bengals can also be trained to walk wearing a harness and leash. Raiden and I take daily walks outdoors and he just loves it.

You'll need to just enjoy Oscar for the wild cat that he is! Bengals have unlimited energy and love to play, so wear him out!

I can tell you're in love with him. They are beautiful kitties -- and can be a challenge, but they are also the sweetest kitties and love to be with their humans. Enjoy him.

Welcome, and hang in there. Once you've figured him out, and he's figured you out, things will get easier. We'd love to see pictures.

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The little monsters 3

Welcome to Oscar and to his owner! I can relate to what you say I have had my rescue Bengal ( 2-4 years old) for a month today!

Wow what an experience, but I think you have already figured a lot of things out. Congratulations for not giving up......I never realized how challenging it would be either and I consider myself experienced with problematic rescue cats and dogs, having had quite a few before I focused on Burmese cats from a reputable breeder.

Sadly I can well understand why there are so many Bengal cats in need of re-homing. So if any of us can help you, please let is know?

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New to Bengal with Tai Chi
Burmese cats for 25 years
West Coast USA

Thank you all for your support and words of wisdom! Oscar goes outside as we live in the countryside in England. There are no natural predators here and he is safely tucked up at night. He is so lovely but he does have his moments. Putting flea and worming stuff on his neck was one of them! My heart was thudding so loudly I thought the neighbours would be able to hear!!!!!! I had to scruff him to do it and he was not a happy kitty! I have tried to post a picture but it did not appear. Will keep trying and maybe get a friend to check what I did as I am a cat person, not a technology one!!! Thank you all!!!!!

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Melissa

UK
Oscar - Rescue (Rascal!!!) Bengal

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Melissa

UK
Oscar - Rescue (Rascal!!!) Bengal

He's beautiful and I see he already has the favourite toy of my two - I have to lock it away from them they go so crazy!

Bengals are a challenge but extremely rewarding!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

He just loves his flying frenzy. He also thinks the wriggling worm attachment to the wand is the best thing ever! He likes to chase it round the house with one of us running ahead of him. We are all getting very fit but he has figured that he can hide and ambush whilst we run circuits of the house. We are totally worn out and he is fine. Not sure that's the right way round!!!!!!!!!

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Melissa

UK
Oscar - Rescue (Rascal!!!) Bengal