Bengal Cat
Breed Profile
Height
13 – 16
Weight
8 – 15
Life Span
9 – 13
Health
health
Luxating Patella
What is it?:
It is a physical condition where the kneecap gets dislocated from its position. If the kneecap moves on the inside it is known as medial luxation while if it moves on the outside it is called lateral luxation.
Clinical signs
The clinical symptoms of this condition and its severity depends on a grading system that follows from 1 to 4. Higher the grade, higher the severity. The symptoms are as follows:
Facing constant or occasional limp
Struggle while jumping to higher surfaces or from one place to another
Skipping condition in the back leg
The increase in the grade often leads to more limping. Due to the discomfort the cat may not be willing to move around too often or may face a reduction in their appetit. Cats with arthritis may scream or make sounds in pain and face lethargy as moving around gets difficult.
Treatment
The Bengal Cat’s age, condition and other injuries or illnesses are to be kept in mind before deciding what treatment to go with further.
anti-inflammatory medications and similar supportive therapies may be used to treat Grade I luxations.
Surgery may be required for Grade II luxations, depending on the condition and other injuries.
Grade III and IV luxations should receive surgical correction.Joint arthritis can be prevented by surgery sooner rather than later.
Pain Medication in case of difficulty in movement
Once the surgery is done the cat is asked to rest and perform no strain on their legs for about 2 weeks.
health
Hip Dysplasia
What is it?:
It is an inherent condition which causes the joint malfunction in the hip.
Cats with this condition have hips that are not aligned. As a result, discomfort occurs.
Clinical signs
Feeling irritated and agitated
Trouble with climbing stairs
Unable to squat
Hesitance to jump to higher surfaces
Excess licking of the hip
Having a limp
Treatment
Surgeries are very rare in case of cats, but they may be considered if this condition affects their way of living.
Personality
Intelligent
The Bengal Cats have similar qualities to that of their ancestors and hence are easy to train
Friendly
Despite people’s belief that the Bengal cat is a domesticated wildcat, they are the sweetest creatures and love human interaction.
Active
The Bengal cats are an active breed and they love to play fetch and be on their feet.
Lifetime Care
Coat
They have a short coat which is very furry and soft.
Colors
The standard Bengal Cat colors are snow, brown and silver. They are also available in rare colors like black, blue and charcoal.
Hypoallergenic
No
Grooming
The Bengal cats do not shed a lot but their coat needs to be brushed once in a while and they also require their nails to be trimmed.
Training
The Bengal cats are comparatively easier to train. All they need is some patience and willingness to learn. They can also be trained to perform tricks as well.
The Bengal cat is a comparatively new breed. They were bred in the 1970’s by Jean Mill of California. Their origins can be traced to the breeding of Asian leopard cats with domestic cats such as the Abyssinian, Egyptian Mau, or American shorthair. Bengal cats are named after the Asian leopard cat, Felis bengalensis.
The Bengal Cat: Introduction to the Breed
The Bengal cat may have the look of a leopard with a strong muscular body but, they are as much a domestic breed as any other. However, it is always better to know as much as possible about a breed before bringing them home.
Bengal cats are generally:
Energetic and playful
Affectionate and people loving
Loves Water
Talkative
Good with children
American Terriers are best suited for –
Active families
Want an affectionate cat
Owners who can give attention and play with their cat
Someone who can teach their cats tricks
Families with older kids
Diet and Nutrition
Their diets should include high protein content. A variety of protein-rich foods can be found in chicken, beef, lamb, fish, and turkey. It's best to not feed them plant based food. Despite their short digestive systems, they are not entirely adapted to metabolize plant-based foods. Animal protein sources are more easily digestible for Bengal cats, which is why they rely heavily on them.
Some foods to avoid for your Bengal cat are as follows:
Health risks of the Bengal Cat
The bengal cat is generally a healthy breed but just like other cats a few diseases are common in this breed and they are:
Flat-chested kitten syndrome is a deformity in cats that leads to the collapsation of the lungs due to the compression of the chest.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is generally a heart disease which is inherited
Distal neuropathy is an illness of the nervous system that causes weakness.
Patellar luxation, it's a life threatening disease caused by coronavirus in cats.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis , it's a life threatening disease caused by coronavirus in cats.
Caring for a bengal Cat
Like every cat The Bengal cat also needs basic day to day care. Here are some of the tips on how much a bengal cat costs you?
A few things to keep in mind in terms of caring for a Bengal cat are as follows:
Keep their litter box clean daily
To trim their nails
To brush their fur to maintain it and prevent hairballs
They require space to jump and move around as they are large cats
They should have toys which are interactive and keep them busy as they are active
It’s better to keep them indoors to protect them from any harm or contracting a disease.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a cat that is affectionate like a dog the Bengal Cat is just for you. They may resemble a wildcat but they are soft on the inside. They are fun and active creatures, they love to climb places and interact with humans as well as dogs. There is nothing wild about these Cats other than their appearance.
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