Yes, Bengal cats can go outside, but it is generally not recommended. Bengal cats are domestic and are not typically accustomed to living in the wild. However, they may lack the survival skills to protect themselves from predators or other hazards. For example, Bengal cats can be prone to specific health issues like respiratory infections.
Reasons Why You Should Let Your Bengal Go Outside
Constant Entertainment
One of the benefits of letting your cat go outside is that it provides stimulation and entertainment, which keeps them healthy and happy. Also, Bengal cats can travel well. Another reason you should allow your cat to go outside is that it helps promote physical activity in cats.
By playing outside, cats constantly exercise their bodies and have fun while getting some much-needed exercise. Besides, exposure to fresh air and sunlight helps keep your cat healthy and vibrant. So, allow your cat to go outside and have some fun!
Improves Socialization and Boosts Confidence
Allowing cats to go outside can improve their socialization and boost their confidence. For example, being outside can allow cats to interact with other animals, people, and their surroundings, which can help them develop a broader range of experiences and become more confident and well-adjusted.
This can only be beneficial for both you and the cat. By allowing your cat to go out, you are allowing it to fully express its natural personality and achieve great potential as a companion and family member.
Improves General Attitude
Allowing cats to go outside can improve their overall attitude and well-being. Being outside can allow cats to explore, hunt, and engage in natural behaviors, which can help them feel more satisfied and fulfilled. Outdoor cats may also have more opportunities for physical exercise, which can help keep them healthy and in shape.
Going Outside Improves a Cat’s Mental Health
Leaving your cat outside to explore their surroundings and socialize with other cats can improve their mental health. Exposure to fresh air and sunlight is vital for cats, and letting them outdoors can help them stay healthy. Cats are instinctively cat breeders, which means they have been bred to like being outdoors.
So leaving your cat outside allows them to explore their surroundings and engage in activities that suit them, such as cat play or chasing birds. The outdoor environment also provides a sense of freedom that can be soothing for cats. By allowing your cat to go outside, you are helping them develop a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Express Their Natural Behavior
Letting your Bengal cat go outside allows them to express their natural behavior and stay healthy and fit. Though cats need sunlight to produce vitamin D, it’s essential to expose them to natural light and outdoor areas to help keep them fit and healthy.
Reasons Why You Should Keep Your Bengal Cat Indoors
Car Hazard
Cats and cars don’t mix well. Dogs can often use their sense of smell to find their way around the car, while cats prefer to avoid moving vehicles. For example, a cat inside a moving car could be seriously injured or killed. Also, most cat breeds are at risk of being involved in fatal accidents with cars, including the Bengal cat breed.
By keeping your Bengal cat indoors, you can protect him from accidents and ensure that he has a safe environment in which to live. Whether you have a cat or are considering getting one, please take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
Catnappers
Catnappers are a severe threat to the safety and well-being of your cat. These predators snatch cats out of their homes at night and take them away to be sold as pets or used in laboratory experiments. Keeping your cat indoors can help ensure that he stays safe and protected.
By keeping your cat indoors, you can enjoy his company without fearing that he could get snatched away by catnappers. This is especially important if you live in a high-cat-napping area or work in an office that allows pets. Keeping your cat indoors can ensure his safety and well-being while allowing him to roam around freely and exercise.
Infectious Diseases, Toxins, and Parasites
Bengal cats are often indoors alone or with other cat breeds due to their friendly and affectionate nature. As a result, indoor cats are at risk for various infectious diseases, toxins, and parasites. These dangers increase if your cat is not regularly exposed to sunlight and fresh air.
According to Clinical Nutrition Service, Indoor cats also face risks of obesity, which can lead to heart disease and other chronic conditions. Therefore, all cat owners should take steps to ensure their cat’s health and well-being, including keeping them indoors. This can help reduce disease risks and promote your cat’s long and healthy life.
Injuries
If you allow your cat to go outside, keep them safe by installing cat-proof gates and providing cat toys and beds. It’s also essential to ensure they aren’t allowed to roam free, which can result in injury or death. If you must let your cat outdoors, ensure they wear cat collars with identification tags and keep an eye on them at all times. It’s essential to ensure that they stay safe and away from danger.
Tips to Attract a Cat Back Home
Microchip Your Cat
If you want to get your cat back home, microchipping your cat is an effective way to track them down. Several different microchips can be used, all of which work similarly. The most common type of microchip is the cat breed-specific microchip, which is implanted in cats of a specific breed.
When a cat has been microchipped, you can locate them using a GPS or the owner’s tracking app. This makes keeping tabs on your cat as they roam free easy. After microchipping your cat, it’s crucial to ensure that they are always wearing its ID collar. This helps ensure that they don’t accidentally wander off and get lost.
It’s also a good idea to take some time every few months to have your cat updated about their chip information and check for any possible updates or changes. Doing so can ensure your cat stays safe and finds them quickly if they go missing.
Be Patient
To attract a Bengal cat back home, being patient and offering plenty of cat-friendly activities and toys is essential. This will help the cat bond with you over time. To ensure your cat has the best chance of success as an indoor cat, ensure it has access to plenty of cat-friendly food and care products and outdoor space to roam and play.
Others
- Leave familiar scents: Place everyday items, such as a blanket or shirt, with your scent near the area where the cat was last seen.
- Leave food and water: Leave food and water in an accessible area to attract the cat back home.
- Use a familiar sound: Use a familiar sound such as a whistle, bell, or can opener to call the cat back home.
- Make a shelter: Make a shelter out of a box or crate with a blanket inside and place it where the cat is likely to return.
- Ask for help: Ask neighbors, friends, and family to help search for the cat and to keep an eye out for it.
- Post flyers: Create and post flyers in the neighborhood with a picture of the cat and your contact information.
- Check local shelters: Check with local animal shelters and animal control facilities to see if the cat has been brought in.
- Use social media: Use social media to post pictures of the cat and ask for help finding it.
