21.06.2022

What’s the best Bengal cat food?

Bengal cats are exotic, playful and exuberant, so they need plenty of energy to stay healthy and happy. Besides healthcare and a steady exercise routine, the crucial aspect of your kitty’s care is their diet. 

Mini-leopards must get their calories from high-quality cat food to properly develop in kittenhood, maintain their athletic physique through adulthood, and reach their senior years gracefully.

What is the best Bengal cat food for your feline companion, and what you should avoid altogether? Untamed presents the ins and outs of the best meal plan for your furry friend.

What is the best diet for Bengal cats?

Your Bengal’s diet should be made up of meat and not much else. Whether you go with wet, semi-moist, dry, or raw meals, the following nutrients are essential:

1. Animal protein
2. Animal fat
3. Vitamins and minerals
4. Water

Animal protein in a Bengal cat diet

Animal protein is the main source of energy for felines. It helps them stay sharp and active. Proteins provide essential amino acids, such as taurine and arginine, necessary for healthy:

• Vision
• Digestion
• Heart function

Although protein-rich meals are the way to go, not all protein sources are adequate. Protein derived from plants and veggies, such as peas, carrots, soya, and sweetcorn, cannot provide your Bengal with sufficient energy and nutrients. There are no vegans in the cat world because felines cannot break down and absorb nutrients from plant protein efficiently, if at all!

On average, fully grown Bengals need about five grams of protein per kilo of healthy body weight. Consult the following table to see how much protein is found in popular animal products: 

Do I smell chicken???

Source: Nika Benedictova

If your Bengal doesn’t get enough protein for too long, they’ll likely suffer from:

• Sudden weight loss
• Loss of muscle mass
• Weakened bones
• Hormonal imbalances
• Dry and patchy skin
• Excessive shedding and hairballs
• Low immunity

Why is animal fat important in your Bengal cat’s diet?

Bengals need fatty acids in their diet to help them:

• Reduce inflammation 
• Maintain cell structure

Besides delivering healthy fatty acids, animal fat is also:

• An excellent secondary energy source—Moderate amounts of fat (not more than 20% per portion) are a healthy calorie source for felines. Cats absorb animal fat slowly, so their blood sugar levels stay within a normal range without overcharging their hormonal system
• A fantastic natural taste booster—Cat food with animal fat makes even the fussiest of felines go wild for the taste. After a single bite of fatty goodness, your Bengal will never again turn to unhealthy snacks or dodgy hunting expeditions

Vitamins and minerals are essential for a healthy Bengal

Bengals need vitamins and minerals to live a long and healthy life. These micronutrients prevent oxidative damage, control acidity levels, and support the immune system. 

There’s no need to turn to dietary supplements as long as your Bengal’s diet consists of lean meat and fish, which contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. 

If you want to feed your kitty homemade food, consult your vet to ensure your meal plan is complete and balanced.

Check out the following table for all the vitamins and minerals your Bengal requires:

How to keep your Bengal hydrated?

Moisture helps your Bengal’s kidneys function properly and enables them to remove toxins from their bodies. A dehydrated cat might get:

• Constipation
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Struvite stones
• Kidney diseases

Because of their high activity levels, adult Bengals require around 400ml of water daily to stay hydrated. Since they don’t like to drink water, you must provide them with ample amounts of wet food, soups, and broths to meet this requirement. 

In case of diarrhoea or retching caused by allergies, a sensitive stomach, or food poisoning, you’ll need to increase your Bengal’s water intake. 

Wet, dry, or raw—what’s the best food for Bengal cats?

There are many options when it comes to cat food. The type you'll choose depends on the quality of the product and your cat's preferences. The most popular options are wet food (canned products), kibble, and raw food.

The benefits of wet food 

High-quality canned products usually contain all that your Bengal needs since they:

• Resemble a cat’s natural diet—With proper amounts of wet food, you won’t have to train your Bengal to stay indoors. They’ll never have the urge to roam in the wild and hunt birds, frogs, or mice to fulfil their need for protein and healthy fats
• Deliver enough moisture—On average, canned food contains around 70% moisture which will keep your feline hydrated 
• Provide felines with plenty of protein—Wet products typically contain over 50% protein, which is enough for their energy needs
• Have vitamins and minerals—High-quality canned food contains all the micronutrients cats need to stay healthy

With sufficient amounts of wet food, hunting urges will become a thing of the past!

Source: GidonPico

Is dry food bad for your Bengal?

Although it’s affordable, easy to serve, and has a long shelf life, kibble is not the best choice for your Bengal. Most vets consider dry food unsuitable because it can contain: 

1. Meat derivatives
2. Grains 
3. Vegetable fats
4. Milk and dairy products
5. Sugar

Feeding your Bengal dry food and nothing else will likely fail to satisfy their nutritional needs, resulting in uneven appetite, weight gain and related health issues. If their basic needs are not met, Bengals will rummage through the garbage for your leftovers and hunt insects around the house, none of which is particularly wise.

Kibble is usually high in calories, filled with carbs, and low in moisture, increasing the risk of:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Constipation and IBS
• Allergies
• Stomach sensitivity
• Bladder stones
• UTIs 
• Kidney diseases

The dangers of raw food

One of the main reasons indoor cats live longer than outdoor ones is their diet.

Even though felines eat raw meat in the wild, products from the human supply chain are not the same as fresh prey. They go through various processing and handling stages (freezing, defrosting, and similar) and can often carry dangerous bacteria, so the risks of food poisoning and bacterial infections are high.

Even commercial B.A.R.F. products could be contaminated with superbugs (drug-resistant microbes). Exposure to this bacteria could be hazardous for your pet’s immune system, as well as your own. Preparing raw cat food at home carries even greater risks because the environment isn’t sterile. 

Some Bengal cat parents suggest introducing your cat to raw food from an early age to build immunity to pathogens and parasites gradually. Kittens’ tiny bodies and fragile immune systems make this weaning technique too dangerous as it can result in acute gastritis and further complications.

Feeding Bengal cats is a breeze with Untamed 

If you want to satisfy your Bengal’s dietary needs, look no further than Untamed!

Whether you go for Chocka Chicken, Tuck-In Tuna, or Full-On Fishy, our products offer the perfect balance of essential nutrients and delicious taste. 

With your Bengal’s health as our priority, we guarantee meals that are:

1. High in animal protein
2. Made with human-grade meat
3. Fussy cat-approved
4. Vet-formulated 
5. Ethically made

High in animal protein

All Untamed products contain twice as much animal protein as most commercial cat food brands. Your Bengal will get the energy and nutrients they need in appropriate portions to prevent overeating and weight gain. Untamed doesn't use plant proteins or artificial supplements.

Made with human-grade meat

Our products are made with high-quality whole meat since we believe our feline companions deserve the same quality we do. Untamed prepares the tastiest chicken, duck, ham, tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, prawns, and shrimp, so your Bengal will never get bored.

The quality of your Bengal’s food should be the same as yours—only the best for us and our kitties!

Source: Vlada Karpovich

Fussy cat-approved

Unlike dogs, cats tend to be finicky about their food. Untamed will make the fussiness disappear! All kitties find our high-quality gravy and jelly meals completely irresistible. 

According to cat parents in the Untamed family, kitties who used to turn up their noses at wet food run to their food bowls when Untamed is served. 

Vet-formulated 

Untamed products are honed and formulated by vets to ensure that your Bengal gets the perfect balance of the best ingredients. 

Our recipes are free from all known allergens and other harmful ingredients, including:

• Artificial additives
• Colourants
• Flavour enhancers

Ethically made

As a company, we stick to the following ethical principles:

• Sourcing ingredients from sustainable, cruelty-free suppliers
• Operating as a carbon-neutral manufacturer
• Using 100% recyclable packaging

Take our short online quiz and get the Untamed taster pack at a killer rate!

Untamed caters to your Bengal’s biology purrrfectly!

Our tasty and healthy products leave no feline indifferent, and your picky Bengal won't be able to resist them either!

Based on insight from our clients, here’s what you can expect after switching your miniature leopard to Untamed:

There's no need to defrost or heat our dishes. Open the can and serve our instant feast to your furry friend!

Untamed is the best for your Bengal!

Image (c) Untamed

Get Untamed in a few clicks!

Follow three simple steps to grab your trial taster pack:

1. Provide details about your cat
2. Choose products
3. Place the order

Untamed delivery arrives the next day with no additional shipping fees. Once your Bengal’s wolfed down the goods, we can replenish your supplies monthly. You’re free to modify, cancel, or postpone each delivery at your convenience, no questions asked!

Bengal cat food to avoid

Want to keep your loveable Bengal healthy and happy for a long time? Avoid cat food containing the following ingredients:

1. Unspecified meat—Avoid all products that don’t clearly state the meat source on their label. They likely contain animal derivatives, bones, and other low-quality by-products from the human supply chain
2. Carbohydrates—Carbs shouldn’t make up more than 3% of your cat’s diet. Sugar, grains, and starch are often used as filler ingredients, but they lead to weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, and dental problems
3. Chemical preservatives, taste enhancers, and artificial colours—Go for products that contain no added colours or taste enhancers as these additives usually mask subpar ingredients
4. Salt—Although Bengals need small amounts of salt in their diet, overconsumption could lead to a dehydrated and uncomfortably thirsty feline. Cats get their recommended dose of sodium from meat and shouldn't eat kitchen salt. Large quantities of salt can be toxic, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy, and frequent urination