We are first time cat buyers after previously owning a dog. We are looking into getting a male Birman and a male Bengal kitten, approximately 12 to 16 weeks of age. We are after advice or any experiences with people having these breeds together and what the best way is to introduce them to their new home. Our first thoughts are to get them at the same time so none of them have any territorial feelings. Our second thought is to get the Birman first as they are more of a timid breed and then introduce the Bengal a couple weeks later. We are open to all ideas and advice that we may need to know.

They may or may not get along, it depends on the individual cats. The bengal will be much more active than the birman and could torment him no matter what age they are. Bengals get more territorial as they age. Around 2 or 3 they can become very different from when they were happy go lucky kittens.

There was an episode of my cat from hell with Birmans and Savannah's and I would think any issues with bengals would be quite similar. Bengals are very athletic, boisterous, muscular and territorial and male bengals are little power houses who are highly territorial. Birmans are very sweet and quiet cats so I would think you could have issues once the Birman is out of kitten stage as bengals don't grow up and the Birman will want to sit down and chill and the Bengal will want to play and they don't accept no.

You will need to catify your house to give lots of places where the Birman can hide and be away from the bengal and I wouldn't recommend leaving them together unsupervised. If you are dead set on these two breeds I would make sure you get a very active and large male Birman and get a quieter small female Bengal who won't be as territorial or large, male Bengals can be over 20lbs of muscle sometimes.

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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

So you'd be getting two cats on the very extreme ends of the behavioral spectrum (in terms of breed stereotypes at least). One boisterous, athletic, with a high prey drive and a need to have frequent physical stimulation. The other affection-seeking, docile, friendly, cuddily.

It's difficult to predict how things will turn out because all cats react differently, and you might end up with a cuddily, sedate bengal and a prey-driven maniac of a birman. You just don't know. But playing the percentages, chances are your bengal is going to rough-house and chase your birman all over the house, and the birman is going to just want to escape this fur-devil and be left alone to his warm window sill (or whatever). Note that, in general, kittens are going to get along better than adult cats. So getting two kittens about the same age, at the same time, increases your chances that they will at least temporarily accept one another (but when they get older that may be a different story).

So you should plan for that. What's really important is to provide vertical spaces so that, for example, your bengal cat select "his" cat tree or wall shelving, or window sill, and the birman can select a different one, not adjacent to the bengal (in opposite sides of the room, or in different rooms). Allowing the birman to have "safe havens" off the ground also much more easily defensible positions, which may reduce the drama and stress that the two cats feel. Also, similarly, once you start to see any sign of the birman being terrorized or stressed out by the bengal, you will need to make sure you provide litterboxes and food bowls that are also spaced apart.

So right off the bat I'd get either wall shelving, or cat trees or both.

http://www.catsplay.com/cat-wall-climbing-systems

For cat trees, the higher the better (especially for the bengal). Don't bother with anything less than 5' or 6' high imo.

https://www.amazon.com/Armarkat-Pet-Pro ... B003BYQ18M

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The little monsters 3

two bengals or two birmans sounds a better mix to me. If only you had a crystal ball. It could work out beautifully or it could be a disaster. As others have said, it's when they get to around two the problems could start. If you do go for that combination hope for a quiet bengal and a over active birman

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Melissa

UK
Oscar - Rescue (Rascal!!!) Bengal

It is really a toss-up here. Things can go well or they can go horribly wrong and you will be pulling your hair out! You will not know until you get the two cats together! If they are both the same age as kittens, then they will probably be chasing each other around the house and playing like typical kittens. As the Birman grows into the adult with a more laid-back personality, it's possible they will still continue to behave with each other, however, YOU will be the one having the play and interact with the bengal as your Birman won't be as interested. Many, many people have regular domestic cats and bengals, and other breeds and bengals. If you want both breeds, by all means get both breeds, but be prepared for any issues that come up and understand that you will have to have the time and patience to deal with them.