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© 2021 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinary Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. all rights reserved.

An overview of research around the common health problems and behavioral characteristics exhibited by Bengal tigers. This may be a factor in the owner's keeping these cats as pets.

Bengal cats originated from wild animals and are even illegal in some states. The breeder created the Bengal cat by crossing an Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat. They are known for their appearance of wild cats, their love of water, their wisdom, and their mischief. These coveted pets can be identified by their offspring or offspring that genetically control mating. 1

The descendants of Asian leopard cats and domestic cats are designated as the first generation or F1 generation. The early generations (F1-F4) are considered to exhibit more predatory and aggressive behaviors than the offspring (F5 and later). In the September 2021 issue of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, researchers from Belgium studied the behavioral differences between early and offspring and Bangladeshi people with and without outdoor activities.​​​ From the perspective of the owner, the researchers also tried to evaluate the suitability of the Bengal tiger as a pet to determine the possibility of the owner surrendering the cat. 1

The researchers provided participants from Belgium and the Netherlands with an online survey of 28 questions. The questionnaire asked about cat demographics, living environment, behavior and health issues. The behaviors that the owner finds troublesome are attacks on people and animals, urinating outside the trash tray, spraying urine, and pica (eating things that are not considered food). Some of the health problems reported include fertility problems, overweight and blindness. 1

In this study1, the results did not show significant differences between previous or offspring Bengal tigers, nor between Bengal tigers with or without outdoor access. Although Bengal tigers prefer outdoor activities, keeping them indoors may reduce unwanted pregnancies and attacks on other animals, but it also increases the likelihood of inappropriate elimination or pica. 1

Most interviewees reported that they studied this pre-acquired breed, which may explain the low incidence of abandonment in Bangladesh due to the owner’s understanding of common behaviors and health issues. The pre-acquisition knowledge is mainly obtained through the Internet and breeders. 1

Interviewees did not mention veterinarians or veterinarians, so veterinarians should work harder to present themselves as a trusted source of medical and behavioral information. 1

From the perspective of the owner, the results of this study do not indicate that the common health problems and behaviors of Bengal tigers affect its suitability as a pet. Although some behaviors are not considered problematic, they may indicate a cat welfare problem. From a cat's point of view, more research is needed to determine the suitability of keeping Bengal tigers as pets. 1

Isabella L. Bean is a candidate for Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut in 2022.

Martos Martinez-Caja A, Rosseau J, Vervaecke H, Moons CPH. The owner considers the behavior and health problems of Bengal cats: a descriptive study. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2021; 41:12-21. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2020.10.007.