Feb
09
Egyptian Mau or Bengal?
ByI’m debating on which one I should get. I went and looked at a few the other day, there is a 3 month old bengal and two 4 month old egyptian mau’s, it is such a hard decision. They are so beautiful, the egyptian maus a silver spotted and the bengal is like leopard colored and spotted. Are bengals harder to litter train and such? The bengal is a little less expensive. I also have a 6 month old french bulldog/pug mix at home who loves cats, do either of these breeds have a problem with other animals in the house? Thanks.
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6 Comments
February 9th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Go Egyptian Mau. They are not as wild and aggressive as the Bengal. If you really want a Bengal you need to know what your getting and ask what Generation domesticated it is. If its just a first gen your in trouble if you have never owned a wild exotic cat. They are not like regular cats, the Egyptian is… so thats my suggestion they are both beautiful but the BENGAL is less expensive because they have been getting a bad rap and its true they are more close to wild than almost all other cats. They are harder to handle.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
I’m sure these are beautiful exotic breeds, but instead why don’t you rescue a cat/kitten from death row at your local shelter?
February 9th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/egyptian.html
CFA will not even allow Bengals in the show hall, and for them to be shown in TICA, they must be at least 4 generations removed from the Asian leopard.
Hope this helps, and best of luck with which every kitty you decide on.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Do your homework on Bengals very, very carefully. Bred properly, they are spectacular cats, but not the cat for everyone. Like all breeds, once they become popular the back-yard-breeders step in so that money can be made. While the “real” Bengal breeders have been breeding away from the wild cat, the BYB’s are indiscriminately breeding, as many people think it’s *cool* to have a pet with such a background. These cats just end up in shelters, and Bengal rescue organizations are growing rapidly.
The reason the Bengal is less expensive is that he’s probably NOT from one of the ethical, responsible breeders. Ask to see his pedigree, and be sure he’s not just one generation away from wild. And ask to see his parent’s accomplishments in the show ring – any cat that’s not been shown (and won!) should not be bred, as otherwise it’s just another BYB cat that should not have been bred.
Mau’s are a bit on the scarce side, and that will explain the difference in price. They are – and have always been – domesticated cats, and are perhaps a better choice for you if what you want is a more cuddly cat. Bengals are wonderful – bred properly and in the right environment – but aren’t the right cat for everyone.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
These are both fantastic cats! Both breeds bond very strongly and need a fair bit of interaction with their owner to keep them happy. Bengals are very high energy and are probably a bit tougher on the furniture I suspect. Both breeds are intelligent and mischievous, so should be hours of fun!
Any Bengal from a reputable breeder should be already litter trained, so no worries there. From my experience they are very easy to train, being very smart. However, check that the kitten is at least F4 (you need to know what this means!)
In either case, check up on the breeder, make sure they are reputable, regularly show their cats and win awards reasonably often (most will have a wall of ribbons to show you!)
Either breed should be ok with your dog, if you manage the introduction properly.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
The Bengal and the Mau are both wonderful breeds! They are also closely related breeds. Of course, though some generalizations can be made, each cat and kitten is a unique individual. Family lines within a breed vary somewhat, but even within the same lines, no two are alike!
We have shared our home with Bengals for over ten years and are continually delighted with them. We like their active and curious nature, and the strong bonds they often form with people. But if you do not want an active cat that wants to ‘help’ you around the house, a Bengal may not be for you.
We have also spent a lot of time in the company of Maus, since our friends have them, and we also find them to be delightful cats! (Hmmm. We find most cats to be delightful, but in different ways!)
By 3 and 4 months of age, any kitten should be ‘litter trained’. If there are ‘accidents’, it can be a sign of a stress, or the kitten/cat may need to be treated by a vet for urinary tract issues.
Most Bengals get along great with ‘cat friendly’ dogs, even if raised in a home without them. Animals that do not know each other should always be introduced to each other carefully and supervised whenever they are together until you are sure they will be OK with each other.
Like any animal, how a Bengal is raised and how you interact with it is the key.
Buying a kitten from a shelter is not a bad idea, though some areas rearely have kittens, they are exposed to many diseases in even the best of shelters (no one’s fault, just a fact of life), and you have no idea how big or what the temperament & activity level that kitten will have as an adult.
In many areas, kittens are in short supply at the shelters, though they always seem to have plenty of cats.
It’s a personal decision, and only you can make the choice. Whatever you decide, enjoy!