|
I do not think you can guarantee that any cat will like being a therapy cat, in a similar way you could not pluck a child from a nursery and guarantee it would turn out to be a well balanced rounded individual, or love cricket or like writing books, etc....
You could better your chances by choosing a cat from friendly parents brought up by a breeder, who socialises her kittens well, but as anyone who breeds will tell you, the cats once grown up may not turn out the way you want them, temperament wise.
It is all down to individual personality inherited and the experiences and environment the cat encounters as it grows up.
The Bengal, like any other cat, has its confident individuals who love everyone, but some will continue to be happy outside their own home, whilst others will be extremely timid and shy outside their own home, so it is not just a case of choosing one that seems well balanced and friendly as a kitten. People who go to shows, can find that the friendly little kitten who wowed the judges, gets less and less tolerant of the whole show scene as it grows up. It doesn't take well to being away from home, and being handled by people it doesn't know. I am not saying all cats get like this, but the possiblity has to be taken into consideration.
I would not agree that Bengals tend to keep their claws retracted, my moggie always has his claws retracted, his paws are soft and I have never had any sort of injury from him, whereas my Bengals go about in a permanent state of alertness which necessitates claws are always handy and ready and I have the scars to prove it. They are not aggressive but they do like to keep a good grip on any surface they are on, which means claws are out.
Bengals IMO need firm control and if you are going to avoid the issues that many have here with their adolescent Bengals taking play far too far, and attacking them, then you need to be prepared for it as you are responsible for the children in your care, children who may not understand or be able to read the signs that the Bengal is about to attack, albeit only in play, but it can cause some damage.
Some Bengals are territorial and get very attached to their home, so dragging them around the place could lead to issues that will manifest themselves as stress and perhaps a grouchy, upset individual. Some Bengals are pretty wilful, they like to do things on their own terms, so that independent streak may not fit well into the therapy schedule. Many Bengals do not like to be held, nor like being told what to do, so if you want the Bengal to sit on your knee to order, you will find you are sitting alone but when you least expect it the Bengal will come and snuggle.
The Bengal does have many attractive traits that would lend itself to becoming a therapy cat, but it also has some less than suitable tendencies too and those need considered in depth.
I would forget about all the romantic "bumf" put out by breeders to sell kittens, and have a good look at the behaviour section of this forum, I am not saying ALL Bengals will have all or even some of the issues there, but at one point you will encounter some of those problems, no matter how "perfect" you think your chosen Bengals will be as a therapy cats.
Of course if you are willing to select, trial and rehome unsuitable cats, then you will find suitable candidates eventually, but assuming you are going to be able to pick two Bengals as kittens that WILL be good therapy cats is perhaps a bit naive. Sorry.
|
Login
Register
FAQ
