Hi Midge
I have two Bengals and we were forced into letting them out, or we'd have suffocated earlier this year in the summer as the house got so hot! However, we only let them out when we are home and generally they stay in our garden, especially if we are outside with them. They do occasionally go into other peoples gardens, but they are never gone for long as one of your 'pro' points hasn't really become a pro - they come back to use the litter tray, for both wees and poos! Doesn't even occur to them to go outside!
But to me that is a pro as I know they can't go far, and generally I'm calling them back every half hour or so and keep watch on what they are up to and where they've gone from the windows. If I see them going somewhere I'm not comfortable with, I have been known to run down the road in my dressing gown to bring them back!
We are lucky as we are in a quiet cul de sac and our back garden backs onto other back gardens so they are not too near roads. They go out for an hour and a half in the morning whilst I get ready for work, and when we get home in the evening, they go out for a couple of hours and then I bring them in again. I always make sure I haven't fed them before they go out to ensure they don't go far as well. They are pretty good and don't make a fuss when we bring them in or cry to go out again, but I guess every Bengal is different. Weekends if we are home they have access to the outside all day, but generally they go out for a bit in the morning and then come in for a nap or whatever and go out again in the evening for an hour or so.
It is a big decision and I am more relaxed when they are back indoors if I'm entirely honest. If we could afford it and had somewhere to put a really large enclosure, that is what I'd prefer as I'd know they were 100% safe.
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