Bengal cats might look like wild cats, but they’re not. They’re a mix of an Asian leopard and an Egyptian Mau. But what about health issues with Bengal cats? First, it’s important to know that Bengal cats are usually healthy. Whether you have a Bengal kitten or a grown-up Bengal cat, you’ll see that they’re very active and always moving around.
Talking about health issues with Bengal cats doesn’t mean that every Bengal cat will get sick. With a good diet, lots of exercise, and regular vet checkups, Bengal cats can live a happy and healthy life. But, they can get certain illnesses.
Like us, cats can get sick because of their genes or lifestyle. But don’t worry, with the right care and lots of love, these problems can be managed.
We’re here to tell you everything you need to know about health issues with Bengal cats. This will help you take good care of your little friend. We’re here to help you.
Common Bengal Cat Health Problems
Now that we’ve said that, it’s important to know that Bengal cats can get sick. Even though they are usually healthy, Bengal cats can have problems with their eyes, kidneys, and teeth. So, what health problems should we watch out for in Bengal cats?
1. Progressive retinal problem
PRA is a sickness that a cat is born with, which slowly damages their eyes. Bengal cats with this bad gene will slowly lose their sight. Cats with this problem start having trouble seeing in the dark when they are about two years old. After two to four years from when this starts, the cat will not be able to see at all.
Even if a cat looks healthy, it can still have this bad gene. This means that even if the parent cat is healthy, their kittens could still get PRA.
2. Patellar luxation
Sometimes, a cat’s kneecap can slip out of place if its knee isn’t formed right. This is called patellar luxation. Bengal cats are very tough and might not show that they’re in pain until it’s really bad. The vet needs to check your cat’s knees often because if they find this problem early, they can treat it successfully.
Even if a Bengal cat is feeling bad, it might act like everything is fine. If only one leg has a problem and it’s not too bad, your Bengal cat will just need medicine for arthritis. But if the problem is worse, your cat might need an operation to put the kneecap back where it belongs and stop it from slipping out again.
It’s important to ensure your Bengal cat doesn’t get too heavy. A good diet is key because being overweight can make this knee problem worse.
3. Hip dysplasia
Bengal cats can sometimes have a problem called ‘hip dysplasia’. This is a problem they’re born with that makes their hip joint not work right and can cause arthritis. Young cats usually don’t show signs of this problem but might start acting like old cats too soon. Bengals with a really bad form of this problem might not be able to walk properly when they’re only six months old.
An X-ray of the cat’s hips can easily show if they have hip dysplasia. The cat needs to be very still for the X-ray, so they might need to be sedated. If the problem is found early, it can be treated successfully. If your Bengal cat is in pain or has trouble moving, an operation to fix their hips might be needed.
4. Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD)
PKD is a disease that a cat can be born with. It happens when there’s not enough of an enzyme called ‘pyruvate kinase’ in the cat’s red blood cells. This enzyme helps the red blood cells stay healthy. If there’s not enough of it, the red blood cells die faster than new ones can be made, which can cause a type of sickness called ‘anemia’.
This kind of anemia usually isn’t too bad and happens slowly. Sadly, this means your Bengal cat might not show any signs that it’s sick. In some rare cases, PKD can cause a very fast and dangerous loss of red blood cells. A special test can show if a cat has this problem. This test can also tell the difference between cats that have the disease and cats that don’t. Since the cat might not show any signs of being sick, this test is the only way to know for sure if the cat has PKD and needs treatment.
5. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
HCM is a problem that can happen in older Bengal cats. It makes the heart muscle get thicker, which makes the heart have to work harder to pump blood. In really bad cases, HCM can cause blood clots, which can make the cat’s back legs stop working. The cat can end up with a very serious problem called ‘congestive heart failure’.
Being too heavy is a big risk for this problem, so it’s very important to make sure your Bengal cat eats a good diet and stays at a healthy weight to help prevent and treat this problem. If you see that your Bengal cat is sleeping more than usual, something might be wrong.
6. Anesthetic allergy
Bengal cats can have a strong reaction to sleep medicine. If your cat needs an operation, the doctor must be very careful. If the cat reacts to the medicine, it could get a big shock and its heart could stop.
7. Food Allergies
Sometimes, a cat’s body gets confused and thinks something in their food is bad for them. This is called a food allergy. When this happens, the cat’s body works hard to get rid of the ‘bad’ stuff.
This can cause two main problems:
Skin problems: The cat, like a Bengal, might start to lick and scratch a lot, especially around their head and neck. If we don’t help them, they could lose hair, get raw spots on their skin, and even get open sores.
Tummy troubles: The most common tummy troubles from an allergic reaction are throwing up, having runny poop, and passing gas.
8. Obesity
More and more cats are becoming too heavy. Cats that live indoors are more likely to get too heavy because they don’t move around much. Cats that are already too heavy might become even less active, which makes the problem worse. Being too heavy can make cats very sick and can cause serious problems that could shorten their lives.
9. Dental Disease
Bengal cats, like other cats, can get a health problem called dental disease. Cats clean themselves, but they don’t usually clean their teeth. Even though some people might think so, Bengal cats aren’t used to using a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Without your help, your Bengal cat could get dental disease. Some signs of dental disease are redness, swelling, bleeding gums, and not wanting to eat. If you see these signs, you should call your vet right away.
10. Cataracts
Cataracts are something we need to remember. They can happen to all cats, but Bengal cats might get them more often than other types of cats. Cataracts make the lens in the cat’s eye look cloudy or foggy.
Bengal cats can have more eye problems than other cats, and it’s not surprising that they can get cataracts too. But don’t worry, a vet can fix cataracts with an operation.
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