A Bengal cat sitting on a climbing post platform

Domestic

Type

12 - 18 years

Lifespan

Medium to large

Size

3.5 - 7 kg

Weight

20 - 25 cm 

Height

loving, sociable, very energetic

Temperament

15 mins 3x a day

Exercise

Low maintenance

Grooming

<ul>
	<li>Brooks D E, Renwick P &amp; Williams D (online) Cataract. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/cataract" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cataract page">www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/cataract</a></li>
	<li>Brownlie S, Fox P, Nicholls P K, Watson P &amp; Bode L (online) Heart: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/heart-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy page">www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/heart-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy</a></li>
	<li>Day M, Giger U &amp; Simpson K (online) Pyruvate deficiency. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's pyruvate deficiency page">www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency</a></li>
	<li>Godfrey D, Verhoeven G &amp; Sturgess K (online) Flat-chested kitten and pectus excavatum. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="http://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/flat-chested-kitten-and-pectus-excavatum" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's flat-chested kitten and pectus excavatum page">http://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/flat-chested-kitten-and-pectus-excavatum</a></li>
	<li>Kiddie J &amp; Ellis S (online) Cat communication Client Information. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis/client-information/cat-communication" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Cat Communication Client Information">www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis/client-information/cat-communication</a></li>
	<li>Langley-Hobbs S, Marsella R &amp; Rackard S (online) Patella: luxation. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/patella-luxation" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's patella luxation page">www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/patella-luxation</a></li>
	<li>Mitchell N &amp; Gould D (online) Retina: inherited degenerations. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/retina-inherited-degenerations" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's retina inherited degenerations page">www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/retina-inherited-degenerations</a></li>
	<li>O&#39;Neill D G, Church D B, McGreevy P D, Thomson P C &amp; Brodbelt D C (2015) Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England. J Feline Med Surg 17 (2), 125-133.</li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd &amp; Fisher R (online) Bengal. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/freeform/bengal." target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's bengal cat page">www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/freeform/bengal</a> 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Content provided from <a href="https://www.vetlexicon.com/felis" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cat information">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Felis</a>.

Vetlexicon is the world&rsquo;s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world&rsquo;s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

Originating in the States, the people behind the Bengal took the Asian Leopard Cat as a starting point and crossed it with a domesticated cat. Thanks to some selective breeding, the result was a success: a wild and exotic appearance, but with all the personality traits you could wish for in a new member of the family.

Bengals are ideal for anyone looking for a smart, energetic new furry member of the family. These smart, playful moggies need to be kept busy, and love lots of human company.

After running around all day, Bengals are happy to snuggle on the sofa - but don&rsquo;t expect them to be a lap cat. Bengals can be kept as indoor pets, but just make sure there are plenty of interactive toys and things to do to keep mind and body busy.

If children and cat-friendly <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to the Everypaw Dog Insurance page">dogs</a> treat them with respect, a Bengal loves making new friends. As with all <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's cat breed guides">types of cat</a>, make sure you introduce other pets gradually and in a controlled way. Bear in mind that Bengals have a high prey drive - and should definitely not be trusted with <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbits</a>, hamsters, guinea pigs and other small animals!

Cute Bengal kitten sitting up on its scratching post platform

Bengal Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Few cats can light up a room like a Bengal. Let&rsquo;s face it, when you look like a mini-leopard, you&rsquo;re destined to turn heads wherever you go. But there&rsquo;s more to a Bengal than just a beautiful coat. These moggies are super friendly, very playful and loyal, and make the purr-fect family pet. Here&#39;s everything you need to know about Bengal cats.

Bengal kitten standing on the kitchen tiles

Bengal kittens are very energetic, inquisitive and playful, just like any other <a href="/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a>. They are likely to find plenty of things to play with, even if they shouldn&rsquo;t be playing with them!

Bengal kittens are very agile so are great at climbing and are also quite chatty, you&rsquo;ll often <a href="/all-things-pet/understanding-cat-language" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to understanding cat language">hear them cooing and chirruping</a>, especially when they&rsquo;re having fun.

A Bengal loves to be in an environment where there&rsquo;s lots going on. So if there&rsquo;s someone around (two or four-legged) to keep them entertained, that&rsquo;s when your buddy&rsquo;s happiest.

There&rsquo;s a flipside to this: Bengals <a href="/all-things-pet/signs-of-a-sad-cat" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to sad cat behaviour">can get depressed</a> if you leave them alone for long periods. If the house is human-free all day, it&rsquo;s definitely worth thinking about <a href="/all-things-pet/should-i-get-another-pet" title="Link to Evrypaw's article with guidance on getting another pet">having more than one cat</a> - so there&rsquo;s always someone to play with.

Bengal cats love to climb and being up high, so don&rsquo;t be surprised to find them on top of your cupboards and worktops to get a good look at what&rsquo;s going on. They also love playing in water, they really love water! So if they join you in the shower, take a dip in the sink or play about in the garden pond, don&rsquo;t panic, it&rsquo;s pretty standard behaviour for these cats.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

This is a big breed of cat with a muscular body, to keep them that way, follow the advice of your vet when it comes to feeding. Usually it&rsquo;s a case of carefully measured portions of good quality cat feed a few times a day. The occasional treat is fine, but making sure your buddy eats healthily and stays trim is one of the best things you can do to give them a happy, healthy life.

A short, close-lying, luxuriously soft coat makes it super easy to keep a Bengal coat looking fresh. Most of the year, a weekly brush is all it takes. Shedding happens most in Spring and Autumn, so you&rsquo;ll probably need to brush more often at these times of year.

Around once a week, a Bengal&rsquo;s ears should be checked. Wipe away any dirt with a vet-approved cleanser. Redness and waxy discharge are signs of infection, so if you see it, arrange to have your buddy checked over by the vet.

Bengals are smart, curious and natural hunters. If you try to make a <a href="/all-things-pet/letting-your-cat-outside" title="Link to Everypaw's article addressing concerns around letting cats outside">secure outdoor space</a> for your buddy to play in, you&rsquo;ll have your work cut out keeping them in there! So if you live near a busy road, an indoor lifestyle is probably the safest option.

<a href="/all-things-pet/your-guide-to-cat-exercise" title="Link to Everypaw's cat exercise guide">Exercise is really important</a> for this extremely energetic, curious breed. They will need lots of attention from you to keep them amused, fit and healthy. Give your Bengal lots of toys to play with, perches to climb on and <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-stop-cat-scratching" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to stopping cats scratching">scratching posts</a>, to enrich their surroundings. A cat tower would be the ideal way to keep your Bengal occupied, the higher and more complex the better.

Bengals are also very trainable and are thought to be one of the most intelligent cat breeds. Young cats are easier to train than <a href="/pet-insurance-for-older-pets" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance for Older Pets">older cats</a>, but you can start training them at any age. With time and patience you could teach your Bengal all sort of tricks and behaviours which will only strengthen your bond and keep them out of mischief!

If a Bengal is on your wish list, you should consider cat insurance for as soon as you get those paws home. Bengals are an expensive <a href="https://cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Breed Guides">cat breed</a>, and given their active nature, it&rsquo;s best to protect those inquisitive paws just in case of a mistimed pounce.

At Everypaw, we have a range of&nbsp;<a href="/Home/cat-insurance.html">Lifetime Cat Insurance</a> that doesn&rsquo;t just cover vet fees, extra benefits like loss by theft is also covered. Plus, with <a href="/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall page">Petcall</a>, you get 24/7 access to a team of vets and vet nurses that can help you with your Bengal&rsquo;s health, behaviour and nutrition.

All you need to do is choose the level of Bengal cat insurance cover that suits you and your Bengal down to the ground.

Link to get an Everypaw Cat Insurance quote

Flat-chested Kitten Syndrome (FCK) is a malformation of the chest in Bengal kittens. This genetic condition can vary from mild which won&rsquo;t need any treatment to life-threatening. Kittens might struggle to put on weight and have problems with breathing. Their legs can also be splayed and weak, also known as &lsquo;Swimmers&rsquo;. Mild cases can resolve without surgery, but other cases may need a splint applied to the ribs and chest. Unfortunately, kittens that are severely affected <a href="/all-things-pet/pet-euthanasia-when-should-i-put-my-pet-down" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to knowing when to put your pet to sleep">might have to be put to sleep</a>.

<a href="/all-things-pet/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy-hcm-in-cats" title="Link to Everypaw's blog about HCM in cats">Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in cats</a> (HCM) is a serious heart condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, so prevents the heart from working properly. This condition is thought to be inherited, but a DNA test is not yet available to identify Bengals with the gene mutation. Luckily HCM is rare, but screening of cats using echocardiography is recommended. Many cats remain stable on medication if treated early enough.

Bengals can be prone to cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). <a href="/all-things-pet/cataracts-in-cats" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to cataracts in cats">Cataracts in cats</a> occur when the lens of the eye becomes opaque and looks cloudy which can lead to blindness. Treatment involves surgery to remove the lens. PRA is an inherited disease that causes photoreceptor degeneration which eventually leads to blindness. There is no cure, but most blind cats adapt very well. A genetic test can identify cats with the PRA-b gene.

This condition can be a problem for some Bengals. The patella (kneecap) dislocates out of place and cause lameness. Treatment depends on the severity of the luxation, but mild cases may not need surgery. Severe cases will need surgical correction, but this can be expensive!

Pyruvate Kinase (PK) deficiency is an inherited disease that affects various cat breeds, including Bengals. Affected cats show signs of mild anaemia which is usually manageable. A genetic test can identify cats that carry the gene for PK deficiency, if they test positive, they shouldn&rsquo;t be used for breeding.

Common Bengal Cat Health Problems by Vetstream

To help you understand what potential problems your Bengal might be prone to, we have joined up with Vetstream, experts in the veterinary field, and have put together some information on the <a href="/all-things-pet/10-common-cat-illnesses-and-symptoms" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to the most common cat conditions">most common health issues</a> seen in Bengals. The most common problem seen in Bengals is a genetic condition called Flat-chested Kitten Syndrome (FCK). They can also suffer from conditions seen in other breeds such as heart and eye problems, patella luxation and Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency.

That’s All You Need to Know About Bengals

Bengals are full of energy and can easily become bored! Sociable and intelligent, they enjoy company so may need a feline companion, to keep them entertained when you&rsquo;re too busy to play with them. They love to climb, play with water and go hunting. With their short-haired coats, they&rsquo;re easy to care for in the <a href="/all-things-pet/bad-fur-day-read-our-cat-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to cat grooming">grooming</a> department. But they can be a handful if they don&rsquo;t get enough physical and mental stimulation.

Bengal cats are expensive and desirable, so watch out for thieves. Prices vary considerably, but on average a Pedigree Bengal kitten will cost around &pound;1000. Buy your cat from a reputable breeder to make sure they&rsquo;re healthy and don&rsquo;t have any underlying conditions.

Microchipping is a great way to increase your chances of a happy reunion if your Bengal ever goes missing. Microchipping your cat is soon to become compulsory, so you will need to make sure your cat is microchipped before it&rsquo;s 20 weeks old.

What is the average lifespan for a Bengal cat?

The average age of a healthy domestic cat in the UK is around 14 years old. The longevity of Bengals varies greatly, but they can live up to around 16 years of age. If your cat is fed a healthy diet, gets regular exercise, and sees the vet for regular health checks, your Bengal should live a long and happy life.&nbsp;

Bengal cats love humans and are super friendly. They will also get on well with children and will even be happy around cat-friendly dogs if they&rsquo;re introduced to them carefully. They&rsquo;re not at all aggressive and will just want to play and chatter to you, and then snuggle on the sofa with you when they&rsquo;ve finished playing.&nbsp;

All cats shed their coat to a degree, but Bengal cats shed much less than a lot of other breeds due to their short, close-lying coat. This means you won&rsquo;t need to worry about a furry sofa or having to get the vacuum cleaner out every five minutes!

Bengal Cat Insurance and Health Advice | Everypaw

Get a quote for your  Bengal cat's insurance

Bengal

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Zoomies to Senior Snoozes, We've Got Them Covered

The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

An older dog for pet insurance for older pets

As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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Everypaw Pet Portal policy management icon

For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/multi-pet-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Multi-pet Insurance page">Insure multiple pets</a>&nbsp;for a multi-pet discount

99% of claims paid in 5 working days*

Unlimited 24/7 access to UK vet nurses and vets with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall vet page">Petcall</a>

Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

Two levels of our Lifetime Pet Insurance cover have been rated 5 Stars by independent financial business, Defaqto, for 8 years in a row.

Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Bengal Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Bengal Cat Facts

Is a Bengal Cat Right for Me?

What Are Bengal Kittens Like?

Life with a Bengal Cat

Caring for Your Bengal

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise