If you have a special affection for cats, then you will know about the Bengal breed. The Bengal cat is one of its kind for the unique body features it holds.
Their bizarre jungle look makes them look wilder than regular cats. Almost every pet owner prefers Bengal cats for their athletic and muscular body type.
If you are looking for kitties with robust features, a Bengal cat is the ultimate choice you have. But the Bengal cats tend to gain fat, and only regular exercise can help them stay in shape.
Do Bengal cats get fat?
Yes, Bengal cats weirdly tend to gain fat if you do not provide them with a healthy lifestyle. As we have said earlier, this Bengal variety is unique for its wild brawny body feature. If it gets deformed due to obesity, what will be the point of having them instead of regular cats? A Bengal cat lover never expects its pet to be sluggish and stout. But it happens in several cases due to multiple reasons. Among these, one of the most popular reasons is an unhealthy lifestyle and skipping regular exercise sessions.
However, as a caregiver of a Bengal cat, you need to remember that this breed is naturally a little heavier than other domestic species. Bengal kittens are genetically bigger than the average domestic feline.
For instance, when an average healthy cat can weigh about 10 pounds, a male Bengal cat weighs from 18 to 25 pounds with sound health.
But the female counterparts of this breed are relatively smaller than the male ones.
If you own a female feline belonging to the Bengal breed, you can expect it to weigh from 7 to 15 pounds before considering them overweight.
It is not natural for a Bengal cat to become obese on its own because of its hyperactivity.
If the owner provides ultimate care and allows it to be active all day long, the Bengal feline will not have weight problems.
They are typically larger than most of the common species you see. So, when obesity hits a Bengal cat, it is the pet parent to be blamed.
The only way you can show your love and affection to your admiring cat is by offering ultimate care and meeting all the requirements. The same rule applies to the Bengal cat too.
Overfeeding can harm their health and make them fat.
So make sure your Bengal cat eats only an adequate amount of food with proper nutrition.
Also, keep them active and ensure that they get to do loads of exercises. Only a healthy lifestyle aids your Bengal feline to maintain healthy body weight and enjoy a long life.
Your loving cat cannot regulate its diet, you are the one who controls what the kitten should eat, so it will be better to make it a habit of providing your cat the ultimate nutrition it requires.
From the very first day, follow the daily diet routine with balanced nutrition recommended by your vet. As a pet parent, habituate your Bengal cat to a daily diet chart and regular exercises to maintain good health.
Why Is My Bengal Cat So Fat?
If you own a graceful Bengal cat, do not judge its personality by the wild jungle look it holds. The Bengal breed is generally bright and slender.
However, like any other domestic cat, they can also gain extra pounds for various reasons.
As we have said earlier, you can expect a Bengal cat to become overweight genetically. But a bad diet, along with an improper schedule, hastens the weight gaining process a hundred times.
Be it a Bengal cat or a human being- obesity cannot assist any life to thrive and stay happy. A Bengal cat cannot be healthy and overweight at the same time.
After getting fat, the Bengal feline needs to spend all its energy to express itself.
This species lives happily with sound fitness only when it fulfills all its requirements.
When it comes to the demand for a Bengal kitty, staying active ranks top in the list. Make sure its daily routine consists of all the appropriate activities it requires.
It is surprising how a Bengal feline with enormous energy gets massive so quickly. If you ask it to a vet, the definite answer will be inappropriate cat parenting.
When a Bengal feline unexpectedly gets plump, you can blame the pet parenting.
The cat’s parent fails to meet the needs of his cat.
A balanced healthy diet, along with a lot of interactive toys, is what keeps a Bengal cat happy, active, and advancing. If you cannot provide all these basic requirements, you will end up having a weak, overweight, and inactive cat.
What to do if your Bengal cat is fat?
Bengal cats get fat mainly due to the irresponsibility of the pet parent.
Even though there are some other reasons behind the unwanted obesity of this cat, overfeeding and inactivity are the most common reasons. Here we have penned down some compulsory pet-parent duties required when a Bengal feline gets fat.
Overfeeding never shows your affection
Caregivers often set aside logical thoughts while taking care of a pet and do harmful illogical things out of love. But remember, only a strict yet affectionate parent can keep his cat healthy.
So if your Bengal cat is getting overweight, evaluate the amount of food you offer to it.
Only give high-quality cat food in a recommended amount.
When we say strict, we mean it. No matter how much your Bengal cat complains about the portion, feed it with just the adequate serving.
Allow them room to stay active
Bengal cats get inactive and gain weight when they cannot have sufficient room to follow their instincts, such as climbing, jumping.
Ways to keep your Bengal cat in shape
Bengal cats tend to be active by nature.
Still, it becomes difficult to keep them in shape if they do not get a proper activity-promoting environment.
Your Bengal feline can become chunky for multiple reasons we have already shared. Now we will discuss the ways to keep them in shape.
1. Plant a cat tree
A cat tree is not a plant with green leaves. It is an activity-promoting prop that helps your Bengal feline to stay sporty.
Since Bengal cats are intelligent and hyperactive, a regular cat tree will not be enough for them. Instead, purchase one with multiple levels so that your Bengal cat can explore different kinds of activities.
2. Plenty of interactive toys
Bengal cats love to stay active, and it also elevates fitness.
So provide them multiple interactive toys.
The exceptional Bengal variety readily loses interest when they figure out how the toy works. So make sure you upgrade all the toys with the level of its intelligence. You can give the following supreme-quality toys a shot.
- Interactive feeders to improve their mental abilities.
- Toys with catnip.
- Since interesting noise keeps the Bengal cats engaged, select the cat ball with rattling noises.
- Try teaser wands with feathers and bells on them. Your Bengals will love that.
3. Spend some playtime with your Bengal
It not only helps them to stay in shape but also improves their mood. Your Bengal does not understand your busy schedule.
So it is better to set aside some work and play for a while with your pet.
You can also take them for a walk. After a long tiring day, an outdoor stroll with your fleecy friend will uplift the spirit of both of you.
FAQ
Followings are some frequently asked questions by the Bengal cat owners.
What is a good weight for a Bengal cat?
Since Bengal cats are slightly bigger, an adult male one can weigh from 10-15 pounds. But the female counterpart weighs 8-10 pounds. Bengal cats can reach a height of a maximum of 16 inches. As body weight depends on several factors, it is wise to ask a vet to get the ultimate answer.
Are Bengal cats supposed to be skinny?
Yes, Bengal cats can be skinny, but not to the point where their ribs are visible over the skin. Bengal felines hold a unique, graceful body feature with tight, muscular attributes. Sometimes their meager body makes their owners worried about their health. The common belief of picturing a healthy cat with a few extra pounds tempts the pet owner to overfeed his Bengal cat. But, it hurts the health of the kitten.
Bengal cats tend to be slim if they receive a proper amount of top-quality, nutritious food. Their daily schedule must include different outlets of workouts to keep them in shape.
If your Bengal cat does not show any symptoms of health issues, then there is no need to panic about its slender figure.
Since weight depends on various factors like body type, diet, and hereditary disease, only a professional doctor can determine whether your cat is overweight or underweight.
Final thought
Even though we suggest you be strict with the daily diet of your Bengal felines, there is nothing wrong with rewarding it with a few treats. But do not make it regular, as it can make the feline chubby.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.