02.06.2022

How to discipline a Bengal cat

Although Bengals are loveable and affectionate, they can be a handful at times. Unlike parents of other purebreds, such as Persian, Maine Coon, and Siamese, humans taking care of these tiny leopards often struggle with teaching their feline companions to behave appropriately. So, how to discipline a Bengal cat?

This breed is notorious for refusing particular food and ripping your favourite sofa to shreds. Despite their temper, Bengal cats can be tamed and disciplined with the right strategies. In our guide, you’ll discover how to deal with the most common challenges of raising these strong-minded yet irresistible kitties.

Aggressive Bengal cat behaviour—common problems

Understanding which behavioural issues you should be on the lookout for is half the battle when disciplining your Bengal cat. To show their dissatisfaction, your feline will often:

1. Destroy everything in their path—One of the worst fears cat parents experience when leaving their kitties alone is returning to an unrecognisable home. For Bengal parents, this fear isn’t as irrational as it sounds because these kitties have an unpredictable wild side 
2. Scratch their way through your prised possessions—Another uncontrollable and instinctive behaviour your Bengal will sometimes display is the need to scratch. If this need isn’t fulfiled outside or with a scratcher, your couch is likely to suffer the consequences
3. Do their business away from the litter box—These kitties have a special relationship with their litter box or, preferably, boxes. If there isn’t a litter station filled with just the right amount of sand in all the important spots in your home, your Bengal might show their fussy side. They’re not afraid to go as far as finding another place to do their business
4. Refuse to eat—Your feline is also likely to show discontent by turning their nose up at specific food even if they previously liked it

Reasons behind aggressive Bengal cat behaviour

Bengal cats are intelligent felines with heightened emotional and physical needs. They are likely to throw fits if those needs aren’t met. 

What do you mean by “Playtime is over”? I was merely warming up!

Source: Helena Jankovičová Kováčová

If you’re having trouble disciplining your Bengal kitty, it might be because you:

• Haven’t neutered them
• Don’t give them enough attention
• Fail to offer them enough space to play and use up their energy 

How to prevent your Bengal cat from going crazy

The joy of adopting a Bengal cat outweighs the potential struggles. To prevent the behavioural issues from happening, try the following:

1. Adopt a socialised kitten—Adopting a kitten at a certain age (preferably at least 12 weeks) who’s already used to rules is a great head start. The early development period is crucial in forming your feline’s behavioural habits. Separating kittens from their mothers too early has been associated with aggressive behaviour
2. Allow them to get familiar with your home—Make your feline’s first contact with your home as pleasant and positive as possible. You can expect some shyness and resistance at first because cats are wary creatures who need some time to adjust. Creating a safe space filled with toys, a scratcher, a litter box, and a bed will allow them to become comfortable and start feeling secure in your home
3. Help them develop good habits—No matter how well you discipline your Bengal, some problems may arise. Being patient and persistent while addressing and correcting unwelcome behaviour is of utmost importance
4. Meet their needs—Having descended from wild Asian leopard cats, Bengal’s activity levels are high. If their need for physical activity isn’t met, they’ll likely direct that energy to your home. Try to understand your kitten's needs by paying attention to how and when they’re acting up before their bad behaviour becomes a habit
5. Get them neutered or spayed—If your Bengal cat is too aggressive and territorial by nature, neutering or spaying them might be the only answer. It will help calm down your feline 

Training a Bengal cat—is it possible?

You can teach your Bengal various tricks since they’re incredibly intelligent. Their intelligence is also one of the reasons training Bengals can be challenging—they don’t always cooperate. If they get bored or distracted, your feline will likely show some resistance.

You say you want me to sit? Is that code for “run away as far as possible”?

Source: Claudio Schwarz

Here are two techniques you can use to train your Bengal:

1. Use a clicker—A clicker should capture your feline’s attention with its clicking sound. If you’re teaching your Bengal cat to sit, you should click at the same time they repeat the wanted behaviour. This technique works well when combined with rewards
2. Reward your feline with treats—Using tasty treats right after your kitty has obeyed a command will seal the deal. Although a simple technique, it works wonders. If you’re using food to train your Bengal cat and improve their behaviour, make sure it’s not only delicious but healthy as well

Using food as a training tool—feline health always comes first

Food is the most productive and successful tool in training your Bengal cat. Rewarding them with fresh, high-quality treats will ensure their cooperation and maintain their health.

Bengal cats have a sensitive digestive system because of their inherent short intestine. Low-quality food filled with carbs, grains, and other iffy ingredients can only make matters more difficult. Avoid cat treats containing:

• Artificial preservatives
• Flavour enhancers 
• Vegetable fats

They do a terrible job at providing your feline with the nutrients they require. These products usually lack protein and healthy fat that are essential for your kitty. Regular consumption of unhealthy food can lead to:

• Excess weight—Don’t let the Bengal’s agility and liveliness fool you. If fed improperly, they’ll put on extra pounds quickly
• Digestive problems—Bengal cats are prone to nausea and diarrhoea if their regular meals or snacks contain unhealthy ingredients
• Food allergies—Feeding your kitty artificial, low-quality products increases the risk of allergies
• Dental issues—Improper diet entails dental diseases, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth loss

Your Bengal’s meal plan should be nothing short of perfect. Snacks must contain the same nutrients as regular meals. Check out the ideal nutrient ratio for felines in the table below:

Regardless of the type of food you give to your kitty—be it wet, dry, or a combination of both— pay attention to the list of ingredients. The best protein sources are:

• Salmon
• Prawns
• Mackerel
• Tuna
• Chicken 
• Turkey 
• Sardines

Liver and ham are excellent natural taste enhancers in cat food but should be fed in moderation to avoid salt and copper toxicity, hypervitaminosis, and gastrointestinal complications.

I’ll have whatever they’re having!

Source: Vlada Karpovich

Mind the percentage of meat in your feline’s treats and meals. Cat food companies are free to claim their recipes are made with chicken, beef, or any other meat, even if they contain only 4% of said ingredient. 

Avoid any treats without meat or those rich in plant-based proteins derived from soy, peas, carrots, rice, and similar. The best products are high in animal protein, made from human-grade ingredients, and contain no common allergens.

Looking for cat food of the highest quality? Untamed checks all the marks!

Looking for high-quality cat food that tastes delicious? Try Untamed! 

Our meals are:

1. Made with twice as much protein as the industry standard
2. Formulated by vets to provide all the necessary nutrients in optimal amounts
3. Produced and packaged ethically

Provide your feline with the healthiest and yummiest meals and treats!

Image (C) Untamed

High in protein

Untamed’s goal is to maintain your Bengal’s health and provide them with enough energy. Since animal protein is the primary energy source for felines, we offer twice more of the good stuff than most commercial cat food manufacturers. 

Your feline will satisfy their dietary needs no matter what you choose—Tuck-in Tuna, Chocka Chicken or Full-on Fishy. Our jelly and gravy products will make your willful Bengal behave to get more. 

Vet-formulated

We designed our products with vets to ensure your Bengal kitty gets all the nutrients they need to be healthy and live a long life. Our menu is fit for all felines, regardless of their age. Kittens, adults, or seniors—Untamed will help them thrive!

Untamed helps prevent some common feline health niggles, such as UTIs, allergies, and tummy issues (IBS, constipation, sensitivity, and more).

Ethically produced

We believe in ethical cat food production and strive to preserve the environment for humans and animals. Taking care of the planet is of utmost importance, which is why we:

• Make sure our meat is ethically reared and our fish sustainably caught
• Use 100% recyclable packaging
• Run strictly carbon-neutral operations

What to expect from Untamed

Our clowder is constantly expanding and welcoming new members. Our happy clients have noticed the following positive changes in their feline companions after switching to Untamed: 

How to join the Untamed family

Joining our family is easy. All you need to do is: 

1. Visit our Try Now page and let us know about your Bengal
2. Choose the products you think your kitty would like
3. Order your first trial pack

The goods will be delivered in a day. Once you run out, we can send monthly supplies regularly. You can change, postpone, or cancel your order whenever you like from your account!