The Bengal cat is a beautiful, muscular creature that resembles a leopard. Bengals have spotted coat patterns that make them easy to spot, and they look like they might belong in a jungle. While they resemble their distant leopard ancestors, they are friendly, domesticated cats that make excellent additions to any home. However, they are prone to certain medical conditions that you should familiarize yourself with if you’re thinking of acquiring one.
In this article, we’ll look at some common health issues that could affect these intelligent cats. We’ll start with eye diseases, joint problems, and more serious health conditions to look out for in your Bengal cat.
Common Bengal Eye Diseases
Entropion: This eye condition is an abnormality with the eyelid that causes the eyelid to roll inward. It irritates the cornea with painful friction, and this can cause ulcers, scratches, inflammation, discharge, and pain.
Lower eyelid entropion is more common, and it usually affects the outer edge of the eye. This condition can also cause conjunctivitis.
Uveitis: Uveitis is inflammation in one or more structures in the eye, which are the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It can occur in just one eye or both eyes.
Cataracts: Cataracts on the lens of the eye can cause a cloudy-like film over the lens, which keeps light from reaching the retina. If it’s severe, it can significantly impact your cat’s vision. Common causes are injury to the eye, genetic or hereditary causes, infections, and cancer.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This condition is a group of degenerative diseases that affect the eye’s photoreceptor cells, which ultimately causes a cat to lose sight entirely. Clinical signs usually arise between 8–20 weeks of age, and a tell-tale sign is dilated pupils. This condition occurs from an autosomal recessive trait.
Image Credit: TheCats, Shutterstock
Common Bengal Joint Problems
Luxating Patella: This painful knee condition stems from the patella falling in and out of place in the knee joint, and Bengals are genetically prone to it.
Surgery is available for severe cases, and weight loss can also help with the condition. Signs appear gradually over time, and in severe cases, your Bengal will probably not jump and may even have a lame leg.
Hip Dysplasia: This condition is hereditary and can be common in Bengal cats. It causes arthritis in the hip joint due to a malformation of the hip joints. Walking can become difficult for your cat, and it’s usually genetic. It’s painful, and clinical signs include limping, chewing, licking the area, and pain when touching the affected hip.
Serious Health Problems
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK Deficiency): This is an enzyme deficiency that affects red blood cells. The red blood cells cannot metabolize as they should, therefore, leading to anemia. The condition is genetically inherited.
Anesthesia Allergy: Although rare, some Bengal cats may have an allergic reaction to anesthesia, but it is only a problem if surgery is required. If you own a Bengal, ensure you speak with your veterinarian before your Bengal has to have any kind of surgery.
Distal Neuropathy: This condition affects the nerve axons, which causes the nerves to degenerate. Bengal cats account for 9% of cats affected. Symptoms include muscle weakness, loss of muscle tone, and poor reflexes and strength.
Psychogenic Alopecia: Also known as over-grooming or self-trauma, this condition is caused by an emotional or mental issue, such as moving to a new place, being afraid of a new pet or a particular person in the home, or fighting for food or litter box usage.The condition causes a cat to over-groom, which results in a thinning coat or even developing bald spots. While not super serious, it definitely needs addressing. The condition usually resolves once the problem is identified and dealt with.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis: This condition is not very common. However, it is a very serious disease that is usually fatal that causes inflammation in the brain, abdomen, or kidneys. It comes from a viral infection called feline coronavirus. We should note that not all cases develop into the strain that causes feline infectious peritonitis. It is more common in cats under 2 years of age, and this disease is different from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in humans.
Diabetes: Diabetes affects the pancreas and causes the inability to produce the appropriate amount of insulin. Insulin regulates blood sugar, and if left untreated, it can cause serious problems or even death.The good news is that it’s treatable through diet and medication so that your cat can live a normal life. Increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and an increased appetite are the more common symptoms.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): This is a disease of the heart muscle. It is a congenital disease often seen in Bengals. The heart walls thicken, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. Some cats may never show any symptoms until the disease has reached a critical stage, which can result in heart failure.
Dental Disease: All cat breeds can suffer from dental disease, but it is a common problem that should never be overlooked. Cats over 3 years old are more prone to develop dental disease. Common symptoms are bad breath, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.
The best way to prevent dental disease is by brushing your cat’s teeth and keeping up with dental cleanings. Dental cleanings may be a bit costly, but it’s nothing compared to surgery to remove teeth. If left untreated, your cat can develop other problems, such as organ damage from constantly swallowing bacteria from infected teeth.
If your cat gives you trouble and cannot handle having its teeth brushed, you can try dental treats or water additives to help with dental hygiene.
Over time, visits to the vet can really add up. If you're looking for a good pet insurance plan that won't break the bank, you may want to look at Lemonade. This company offers adjustable plans customized to your pet's needs.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the Bengal cat can be prone to these medical conditions we’ve listed above. Keep in mind that these conditions may not develop in your Bengal cat, but it’s good to know what to look for in case your Bengal gets sick.
A way to prevent certain medical issues is to only buy a Bengal from a reputable breeder. A responsible and legit breeder will take the necessary steps to avoid breeding a male and female carrying any genes that could affect the offspring. Another tip is to ask many questions and always request to meet the parents of a litter.
