My Bengal has been going to the same vet all six years of his life and they have no problem at all with him. They say they have several Bengal patients. He's not the best behaved kitty while there, but they can handle him and he survives the trips.

It's good they have several Bengal's they see, at least they're experienced enough to know how domesticated these 'wild-cats' truly are.

I suspect the vets I saw at the practice had little to no experience with the breed. Gives me a chance to educate them :).

Our Vet here is a cat only clinic and they were absolutely smitten with our kitten when we first took her to them. They did say they've been seeing a lot more Bengals recently with less prominent "bengal" markings and a more "tabby"/moggie like appearance which makes me wonder about the state of breeders in our area or the research being done by the people buying them... hopefully there isn't a trend of people being ripped off going around but I guess it wouldn't surprise me all that much..

Interesting and coincidental this post came up now. I took my Boys for their first annual booster 3 weeks ago. I have been using the same vets happily for years but saw a new vet on the practise on this occasion. His first question when I got them out of their carriers was ,"Oh, Bengals, any problems with them?" In that tone of voice that made me realise he wasn't asking about their health generally. I asked him what he meant and he started mentioning spraying "But that doesn't usually start until they are a bit older" !!! and of course, the same old chestnut about aggression and destructiveness. The funny thing, The Boys were so laid back in the vets, they almost looked like they could have been lying on a sofa with a brandy and cigar in each paw! I've had previous moggies that have been softies but have screamed and scratched as soon as they are out if their baskets and onto the examination table.

This vet was Australian and said there had been loads of problems with Bengals down there, first I've heard of it!, and that he wouldn't particularly recommend them as domestic pets but did admit that mine SEEMED to be the exception to the rule.

I've not had the same experience with the 2 vet practices I've visited, we've stuck with one that's slightly further away only because they're really great with Tigger and Nala and all the nurses, other people bringing in their pets and the vets themselves love seeing Tigger and Nala and are surprised how quiet and inquisitive they are at the practice. Tigger's a lot better at the vets now than before, he used to cry all the time, but will now walk around and explore the waiting area and sniff all the strange bottles and other things inside the consultation room.

I have heard from other members on the forum about negative stereotypes about bengals though, not just from vets but also from people who don't know about bengals and write negative articles about them which gives the general public the wrong impression

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My vets don't even bat an eyelid re the fact that they are Bengals, none of mine have been any issue and just act like regular moggies at the vets, so if you are a vet then what's not to like?
I must be lucky but although there may be a bit of a "conversation" on the way down to the vet, thankfully I do not recognise any of the stress or bad behaviour that some have when taking the cat to the vet.

I also feel it is down to the vet him/herself and how they handle cats as to the response they get. Bengals can sense insecurity or fear or alarm and if a vet is edgy and unsure or even hostile, then perhaps that is why some cats play up.

I face a risk of my vet stealing Oscar every time I leave him there, she's so in love with him

Hi all!!

I have only taken my cats to the vet twice since Ive had them (first healthcheck, and then for me being an over anxious fur mummy!!!)

The female vet on the first visit gave me a lecture about my choice of feeding!!

The second visit, the male vet implied with his sarcastic "Oh, what LOVELY cats you have"!! ............... that he did not approve of Bengals.............. as Shay, 15 weeks old, jumped and scratched (ME I might add!!!) when he stuck a thermometer up his bum!!!! Poor baby was shocked! The vets attitude was that Bengals aren't good pets ............. they are aggressive and spiteful due to their DNA ...............

Am hunting for a new vet!!

Lori
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I know, right!!?

Lori
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My vet is always delighted to see Benji and says he is the most laid back Bengal he knows. He is the easiest cat I have ever had to put in a basket, just pick him up and put him in and shut the lid! He never struggles or growls at the vet even when he had to burst and clean an abscess on his head.

My old Tabby on the other hand.......


Heather

My 2 actually put themselves in their carriers!!

They make a lot of noise on the way to our destination............. he meows, she meows, he meows etc...... almost like they are re-assuring each other!! *CUTE*

She was fine in the vets, having her temperature done AND having an anti-emetic injection too!!
Shay was a bit different............ didn't mind being handled, just didn't appreciate the stick up his bum!!! I got scratched, NOT the vet............. and that was my fault............... I hadn't built the courage to attempt to cut his nails yet.................. hubby did them THAT NIGHT after he saw me.................. I looked like I had been washing with wire wool and broken glass shards!!

I am finding it hard to find a vet that is supportive of raw feeding, which is a personal decision we have made after months of research into cat nutritional requirements................. and also found this vet practice to assume that ALL bengals are likely to bite, scratch or worse JUST because they have recent wild relatives!!

I personally think that an aggressive cat can be any breed!

Lori
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My vet is Australian, larger than life, and ADORES Merlin!
Maybe hers was from the Outback....