Bengal cats are no doubt one of the most beautiful cat breeds. However, there are a few questions you might be asking, such as how long do Bengal cats live for or what is the life expectancy of a Bengal cat?
Bengal cats are so beautiful and look so natural, that many will mistake them for a wild cat. At least, I know that all of my neighbors do!
Nonetheless, despite Bengal cats having a wild appearance, their temperament and behavior is closer to that of a domestic cat, rather than a wild jungle creature.
Without further ado, let’s explore how long Bengal cats live and whether they can last a lifetime! On top of this, we’ll also tell you what factors influence a Bengal cat’s life expectancy.
What is the life expectancy of a Bengal cat?
The life expectancy of a Bengal cat is 12 to 16 years. If you take care of your Bengal by feeding it the correct nutrients, ensuring that your cat gets enough exercise, goes to the vet annually and you keep him or her safe, then your Bengal cat can live longer.
It is claimed that the oldest living Bengal cat is 34. Although this isn’t proven, it’s not uncommon to see Bengal cats in their twenties, or other cat breeds living longer (see: Nutmeg, the 32-year-old cat).
Below are factors influencing the health and how long Bengal cats live.
Does diet and nutrition impact life span?
You may have heard the phrase “you are what you eat”. This saying is as true for Bengal cats, as it is for humans. The only difference is that cats, or Bengals, require a different diet to ensure a long and healthy life.
It’s vital that a Bengal cat’s diet is as close to what a Bengal cat would typically eat out in the wild. Feeding your feline cat the right food will prolong their life.
Your Bengal cat needs to have as balanced a diet as possible. That might mean avoiding some of the more popular cat brands which sell food that’s made up of grain and fillers, with “flavoring”.
It’s vital that a Bengal cat eats the right nutrients. Bengal cats typically need to eat a lot of protein, which comes from meat. This will also provide them with taurine and other nutrients, which will ensure that your Bengal cat doesn’t suffer from diseases.
You also need to know what sort of foods not to feed your cat, as certain foods are toxic to Bengals and can either make them ill or potentially kill them.
Find out more by reading our article about a Bengal cat diet.
Does exercise improve Bengal cat life span?
If you like to sleep in, or are looking for a cat that will go about its business all day, then a Bengal might not be the right choice.
Bengal cats are naturally active cats, and getting plenty of exercise is hugely important, as it determines Bengal cat life expectancy.
Set aside time in your busy day to increase your cat’s heart rate. It will not only keep them fit but will also help if your cat wakes you early or goes crazy in the night. Personally, I play with Coco (my Bengal) in the morning, during my lunch break and for an hour before bedtime.
How can you increase the life expectancy of a Bengal cat?
Certain illnesses are more common in some cat breeds than others. Although the knowledge available online has been constantly growing, it’s vital that you leave diagnosis and check-ups to the professionals.
To ensure that your cat is healthy, visit a vet regularly (at least yearly).
Cats are tough. In fact, by the time a cat’s owner realizes that something is wrong, the illness could be so several that it’s unrecoverable.
A qualified vet knows where to look, what to check and will also give your Bengal cat any vaccinations to help your cat’s immune system (even if your Bengal is an indoor cat).
Also, keep in mind that a vet can help improve your Bengal cat’s life expectancy not just through vaccinations and their health checks. They can also advise and recommend specific food, advise on portion sizes and much more.
Aside from visiting the vet, you should also take care of your cat’s health by regular grooming, keeping the surroundings clean and safe.
Pollution and the environment impact Bengal cat life span
Cats are smaller, which makes them more delicate than humans when it comes to pollutants and toxins.
Because they’re smaller, closer to the ground and clean themselves (ie. lick every part of the body that has touched the ground or has gotten dirty), they are susceptible to being poisoned or digesting something which may cause a slow or premature death.
Bengal cat life span can be easily shortened through the digestion of toxins, eg.
- pesticides
- insecticides
- dyeing agents
- bleach
- lawn fertilizers
and other chemicals.
Ensure that you keep your cat out of harm’s way, and ensure that you know what products you’re using and what impact they will have on your Bengal cat. After all, something as simple as trying to make your grass greener, or leaving something out (eg. bleach) could kill your cat.
Thank you for all this information about keeping our felines healthy and safe. For real appreciated, it helped me to understand a bit more my (most precious 🙂
I have 2 *boys* well they used to be 🙂 One Bengal named (Merlin) and one York Chocolate called (Frodo) Merlin @ 14 months & Frodo @ 16 months . They live in Germany in a big house with 4 floors plus cellar, of course they have access to a Cat safe garden 40m long by 25 wide with grass and bushes but no trees.
Yes i Love them to bits.
Ps, I have one question that it seems no one has covered or I cannot find. What do I do when I want to go on holidays for 14 days,
We have someone that he can live in our house for this period and take care our boys (accepted by them) (cat house/hotel/care ) out of the question I do not want my boys to an environment like this.
My Question, how my boys will take it, not seeing me or my wife for 14 days.. That issue have me going a bit crazy in the past few weeks and the days to leave them are coming closer.
In my experience with my Bengal cats.
I have 2 which I owned from kittens and now they are 18 and 17 years old ( Outdoor cats but with curfew )
A F4 and a F6 Bengal if I remember correctly.
We have been going on regular holidays over the past 18 years, and always have put them in a trusted eatery,. where we know they are safe from harm.
Will they be upset you leave them .. I would say yes for a little while.
As cats are creatures of habit, but they will settle down after not to long.
My F4 Bengal would without doubt let me know that he was not pleased with me for leaving him
on my return ( But cuddles and treats ,then it is soon forgotten )
When they got older in age, we then stopped taking them to a cattery and had friends that would house sit.
Upsetting there routines, when they reached older years was harder for them to adapt.
Finally someone saying they have Bengals older than 16! Thank you for sharing. I can only fide info from people with young cats. My Bengal girl is actually half Chausie and is almost 16. She is still very active, talkative, territorial and wants to chase lizards all the time, however she lost a lot of weight and is tiny (about 7lbs) sometimes she has issues with throwing up and gets picky with food. Her daddy (the Chausie) is almost 17, yodels/hollers often and unfortunately has IBD…. Other than that he seems healthy and active. Our regular black cat is about 13 and has always been the laziest and sleeps often. I have never met anyone with these kind of cats. Thank you for your comment…. And thank you Kacper for the article