Wonderful breed with a few things to know before you commit to a Bengal

I've had my Bengal for 4 years and overall it's been an amazing experience. stunning wild appearance. very playful. The personality of this breed really is special — wild-looking, energetic, intelligent.

That said, there are a few realities I wish someone had been more upfront about. extremely high energy was a real surprise. And can be destructive took some adjustment. These aren't dealbreakers by any means, but they're worth knowing going in.

Health-wise, progressive retinal atrophy. We had one scare a couple years in that cost a few thousand dollars. Pet insurance is strongly recommended. But despite these things, I'd still give the breed 4 stars — the companionship and personality far outweigh the challenges.