I have owned cats for 18 years. About 5 years ago l met a bengal cat and have wanted one. But there is a huge part of me that feels guilty because l am all about rescue. I have worked with local shelters by fostering kittens and cats (stopped about 2 years ago). But l know l will never find a bengal kitten waiting in a shelter. The cost of one and knowing all of the homeless pets brings me such guilt in buying one. But l know its no different then someone getting a dog from a reputible breeder. Also l have guilt about bringing one into my home with my 8 and 9 year old very spoiled house cats. I feel like l would be upsetting them. They never really were around my fosters. I used seperate rooms. But l just found a breeder close by and the temptation has been higher then ever! I guess l just need to be 100% sure first and let go of the guilt lol.

Welcome to the forum. There are bengal rescue groups ALL over this country, if you're in the USA. There are Facebook pages devoted to them and I see posts almost daily on bengals needing a home. There is a rehoming section here that gets a post every now and then. If you can be patient for a little while, your rescue bengal can be a reality and you will be providing a home for an older kitty who needs it. Kittens are great, but these older babies need a good home as well.

You already have two kitties -- and actually getting a bengal could upset the mix. Then again, things could go really smoothly. We had someone fostering an older female bengal who simply could not settle in with her other kitties. It's really a gamble adding a new kitty. Kittens usually do a little better than older kitties, but still ... the balance of the household changes, especially if you get a male bengal. They are highly territorial and can become bullies to the other kitties.

Just know that meeting a bengal and actually owning one are two different things. Please read up on some of the topics that interest you here on this great forum. A bengal will not be like your other kitties. They are a breed of their own.

We are here to answer any questions you may have. We all own or have owned bengals.

Thanks my main concern is how the bengal will do with my cats. I never want another cat to come in and think they are the boss. My cats are so laid back. And l know the bengal can be a handful. I may just wait until these cats go and start over. Of course l may have awhiles to go!

I certainly do not want to discourage you from rescuing a bengal, however one never knows how your two other kitties will handle a new arrival until it actually happens. There are many members here who have bengals and regular kitties that do just fine together. It really depends on the cats. A bengal is definitely not a "laid back" kitty! They are hyperactive and require cat trees, play time. They will not sleep 20 hours a day. A couple short naps and they are rearing to go. If you've been around any toddlers, that's what a bengal is. Always active, always trying to find trouble. They are also very loyal and loving kitties. The key to a successful, co-existing home is to properly introduce the new kitty.

Most of the rehoming posts will say whether the kitty is good with other cats, dogs, children or whether it needs to be an only cat. Just read up as much as you can and you may eventually find the perfect bengal for your household.

I will say this we had my last Bengal with a moggie and she used to "play" with him and it was like an old man playing with a body builder. Bengals are all muscle and they think they're playing when other cats are literally getting beaten up, they really don't know their own strength at all. They also have a ridiculous threshold for pain they can get beaten and bruised and not feel it it's why they play so rough.

She often played with the dogs instead of our other cat and it wasn't rare to see her playing with the neighbourhood foxes when she was a lot younger it was a sight to see. She'd literally play tag with them I was freaking out of my mind when she did that I thought she would get badly hurt but never did. We also had people regularly knocking on our door saying she'd beat their cat up thankfully we moved and got a secured garden but she would cause havoc and she was a small female Bengal. We also had the RSPCA turn up because someone had called in a Lynx sighing

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- Sarah
Arya 24/04/16 - Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Griffith 16/04/16 - Silver Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Mina (in my avatar)- 1999-2016 - Seal Mink Spotted Bengal (Snow) - run free at rainbow bridge