Do Bengal Cats Get Along With Dogs: How To Introduce Both

People ask do Bengal cats get along with dogs a lot, in this article we will be discussing all you should know about Bengal cats and dogs living together.

The most important thing to learn in this post is how to introduce a dog to a residential Bengal cat or vice versa.

We will also discuss why your Bengal cat needs a dog or second pet as well as answer some questions about dog and Bengal cats.

Recommended post: Do Bengal Cats Get Along With Other Cats: How to Introduce Both.

So, Do Bengal Cats Get Along With Dogs

Yes, Bengal cats get along with dogs very well because Bengal cats are very social animals that needs social interaction and a companion due to their high energy level and active nature, dogs provide a good source of exercise for Bengal cats.

However, Bengals are best suited to homes with older children who will enjoy playing with them, or for homes with active breed of dogs like Beagles.

Factors to Consider when introducing a dog to Bengal cat

Here are some common factors to consider when thinking of bringing in any dog breed to live with a Bengal cat;

The age of the dog
The age of the cat

Medical conditions of the dog
Medical conditions of the Bengal cat
The Personality of the dog

The Personality of the Bengal cat
Socialization status of the dog
Socialization status of the Bengal cat

The past experiences of both the dog and cat.
The individual breed of the dog.

9 Best Breeds of dogs that gets along with Bengal cats

Here are the 9 best breed of dogs that are better behaved and suited for Bengal cats;

Beagle
Golden Retriever
Basset Hound

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Labrador Retriever
Pug

Collie
Newfoundland
Poodle

Things you need before bringing home a dog to live with a Bengal cat

Here are the list of things you need to get before bringing any dog home to live with a Bengal cat;

A separate room for the new dog
Water can

A leash
Feeding can or plate
A dog bed

More play toys

Things you need before bringing home a Bengal cat to live with a dog

Here are the list of things you need to get before bringing a Bengal cat home to live with a dog;

A cat tree

Scratch Post
A separate room or hiding place
drinking water fountain or can

Cat bed
Feeding plate
Litter Box

Why Bengal cats need dogs

Here are some reasons why you need to get a dog for your Bengal cat;

Dogs helps Bengal cats fight separation anxiety
Dogs helps Bengal cats fight depression

Help improve the Bengal cat social life
Dogs keep Bengal cats busy while you are away
They are a good companion to Bengals

Dogs helps Bengal cats get some amount of required exercise.
Dongs help improve the Bengal cat family bonding levels.

How do you introduce a Bengal cat to a dog?

Here are the steps to take to introduce a dog to a Bengal cat or to introduce a Bengal cat to a dog;

Prepare for arrival of the new dog or cat

This step includes getting the separate room ready for the new dog or cat.

Get the room cleaned up and set the dog or cat bed, water can, litter box, cat trees, etc.

Here are a couple of things to do;

Sweeping all corners to be clean.
Mapping out a small hiding place for your cat in the same room.
Placing the litter box in an area that is accessible.

Placing clean water for the new dog or cat.
Keep a cat bed close to the hiding place you provided.
Make sure the room can be locked.

Bringing the new dog or cat home

Before you bring down the new dog from the car or whatever you used in transportation, you have to restrict your resident Bengal cat boundaries to avoid a surprise attack.

Make sure you do not allow your Bengal cat to have access to the new dog, no matter how well you think you have socialized your Bengal cat.

Bengal cats are great hunters, very territorial and have natural hunting instincts, and can attack to protect their home.

Take the new dog into his or her room and allow him or her to explore the new house.

Give him or her space and time to get used to the new home, try and visit and see how his doing like 3 – 4 times per day.

Be sure he or she lacks nothing, once he or she is used to the new home get ready for proper introduction.

How will you know his, or she is ready for introduction?

You know when he or she becomes bold and stops hiding as you step in.

This process should not be rushed, allow he or she to go at her pace. Take your time because he or she needs confidence and courage to meet your Bengal cat.

Getting ready for introduction of the new dog or cat

The first thing you should do once you bring a new Bengal cat or dog home is to get each of the pets to get the natural scent of each other.

You should get two blankets, one for the dog and one for the Bengal cat, place it on the bed of each pet.

Allow them to sleep on the blanket, then exchange it for both of them to get the natural scent of each other.

Also get two clean hand towels, one for the dog and one for the cat. Rub the hand towel for the cat in the cheeks or face of the cat.

Also rub the towel down the cat body to get its natural scent of the cat.

Rub the second towel at the dog armpit and neck region to get the natural scent of the dog.

Take the towel of the cat to where the dog sleeps and do the same with the dog towel. Always reward both pets for accepting the scent swap.

The Introduction of the both pets

Firstly, you need to put both pets behind a small gate barrier and allow each pet to sit and observe the other pet.

Reward them for staying calm and not attacking each other. Always provide a place your cat can run and hide in case of sudden attack.

Do the same for the dog, provide a hiding place for the dog in case of sudden attack.

After you allow them to see each other in a small barrier gate or glass door, reward them and take them back to their rooms.

Always monitor how both pets are getting along with each other especially the Bengal cat as they are too territorial.

Let both pets stay behind the barrier for about 2 hours for 2 days before going to the next stage.

Face to face meet between the Bengal cat and the dog

Before you allow both pets to meet face to face, make sure both pets are relaxed with seeing each other around and are familiar with the scent.

Put a leash on the dog and allow the cat to explore the dog, because he’s the owner of the house and the dog is a new member of the family.

Reward both pets for good behavior and not chasing each other away. Don’t take the leash off the dog for any reason and watch out for signs of anxiety.

If everything goes well and the dog is calm, introduce a toy and allow both pets to explore each other and the toy.

Always keep a tab on the dog, and do not take your eyes off both pets for the first few days. Make sure your cat has shelves, cat trees or where to hide.

During their first face to face introduction, it’s important to give your cat the most control.

So, make sure to put your dog on a leash and let the cat roam free. Your cat should be able to approach or avoid your dog at all times.

Things to note

Don’t be too sure of both pets for the first few weeks, because things can go wrong.
Never shout at any of the pets.
Don’t rush the process.

Always reward good behavior.
Provide lots of interesting toys.
Do not underestimate what a dog can do to a cat.

Never allow both pets to be alone for at least one month.
Always make sure you show equal love and affection.
Allow both pets to explore each other before you jump into a conclusion.

Repeat every process until you are satisfied with the progress.

FAQ: Do Bengal Cats Get Along With Dogs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Bengal cats living with dogs;

Can Bengal cats live with dogs?

Yes, Bengal cats can live with dogs provided they are well socialized and trained, Bengal cats are very affectionate towards their families, and are a social breed of cat that requires social interactions with other pets as they can become very territorial.

What dogs go well with Bengal cats?

Here are the 4 top dogs that goes well with a Bengal cat;

Beagles
Basset Hound

Golden Retriever
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Best companion for Bengal cat

The best companions for Bengal cat are as follows

A second Bengal cat
Siamese cat
Persian cat

Abyssinian cat
Beagles
Basset Hound

Golden Retriever
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

What are Bengal cat personalities

Bengal cats have the following personalities;

Extremely energetic
Highly athletic
Very active

Too confident
Always curious
Very social

How long will it take a Bengal cat to adjust to living with a dog

Since Bengal cats are a social breed of cat with great personalities and love to have a companion, it might take for 1 week to 4 weeks for them to adjust to living with a dog. It also has a lot to dog with the personality of the dog and how social the dog is.

Here are some interesting topics you should read about Bengal cats;