Bengals are a beautiful breed of cat. As they are a unique breed, their diet should reflect this.
Unlike your average indoor house cat, Bengals do require a stricter and more specific diet.
Given this, it can be a difficult task knowing which food is the best to choose.
Luckily, we are here to help. In this article, we have researched five of the best Bengal cat foods so you do not have to.
We have reviewed them all and have included the pros and cons of each.
At the end of the article, we have included a useful buyer’s guide, filled with all of the information you should know about your beautiful breed and the cat food you should be feeding your Bengal.
If you are in a rush, why not check out our in a hurry section below to discover what we have chosen as our top pick.
We hope that this article will help you to find the purrfect food.
In a Hurry?
Here is our top pick:
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Cat Food
We have chosen this food because the ingredients are superb and it contains everything your Bengal will need to be strong and healthy. It is grain-free and does not contain any unnecessary additives.
It is particularly high in protein, which is exactly what your Bengal needs. The ingredients list is simple and the fruits and vegetables that make up a small percentage of the food should not disagree with your cat.
It is coated in freeze-dried raw protein which is close to what a Bengal’s natural diet would look like. It is available in wet food which can be purchased here and comes in a variety of bag sizes.
Overall it is reasonably priced, all-natural food made up of 81% meat ingredients. The only thing worth noting is that it is not a single protein source
1. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Cat Food
The chicken used is cage-free and this food is made in the USA. It is an all-natural food and is close to what a Bengal’s diet should be. Instinct contains all raw ingredients and focuses on using real meat and natural ingredients. The processing stage is minimal to keep this food as natural as possible.
It is coated with freeze-dried raw food and has probiotics included to help with your cat’s digestion. There is wet food available which can be purchased here.
Instinct comes in 5 different bag sizes ranging from 2.2lb to 11lb. It can also be bought in other flavors in addition to chicken – duck, rabbit, and salmon. It is reasonably priced.
It is worth noting that the food does contain a mixture of different protein sources, even though chicken is the main ingredient. Keep this in mind if your cat has an intolerance to certain proteins.
Pros
- All of the ingredients are natural and there are no additives
- High protein content
- Comes in a range of flavors and wet food
Cons
- It is not a single protein source
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2. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food
Crave is wheat and soy-free, and high in protein. Real chicken is the first and main ingredient. It is grain-free and contains 40% chicken. There are no animal by-products added. It contains many essential vitamins and minerals to benefit your cat.
It contains carbohydrate sources that are good for your cats and the food is not filled with unnecessary fillers. It has essential nutrients that will help to aid digestion, overall health, and muscle mass.
The food is available for both adults and kittens, and there are wet food options too. The wet food is available here. There are three other flavors to choose from – Chicken & Salmon, Salmon & Ocean Fish, and Turkey, Chicken, and Duck.
The bags come in the following sizes, 2lb, 4lb, and 10lb. It is worth noting that the chicken flavor also contains fish protein.
In regards to price, this is one of the cheaper options. It is a great option if you are on a tighter budget. This does not mean that it lacks in quality, however. The ingredients are fantastic and are suitable for Bengal cats.
Pros
- Very reasonably priced
- Grain-free, high in protein, and contains great quality ingredients
- Available in wet food
Cons
- It is not a single protein source
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3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Dry Cat Food
The formula of Blue Buffalo is grain-free and it is made with real chicken to help promote muscle mass. It includes healthy carbohydrates such as peas and sweet potatoes.
There are fatty acids, and omega 3 included to help maintain your Bengal’s shiny coat and healthy skin.
Blue Buffalo contains LifeSource bits. This is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help to boost your Bengal’s overall health. This was created by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists.
There are no animal by-products added and it contains 30% protein. This is not as high as some of the other cat foods we have included, but is still a good amount.
This food is also available in wet, which can be purchased here.
Pros
- Grain-free recipe and no animal by-products added
- Contains LifeSource Bits to help aid your cat’s overall health
- Comes in wet food and a variety of dry food bag sizes
Cons
- Not as high in protein compared to some of its competitors
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4. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food
Although this food does contain grains, brown rice tends to be better for Bengals in comparison to corn and wheat. There are no artificial colors or preservatives added. The total protein content is not stated, but it is the first ingredient on the ingredients list.
In terms of price, this food is one of the cheaper options and is reasonable. It comes in one other flavor, salmon and brown rice. There are three different bag sizes to choose from – 3lb, 6lb, and 14lb. It comes in wet food, which is available here.
The wet food has a wide variety of flavors.
The kibble size is small and easily digestible. There are added vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help aid your cat’s overall health. This food is suitable for both cats and kittens.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Wet food available in a variety of flavors
- Contains essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
Cons
- The overall protein percentage is not stated but it is the first ingredient listed
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5. Royal Canin Bengal Breed Adult Dry Cat Food
In terms of price, it is a more expensive food and is only available in a 7lb bag. It has high amounts of protein to suit a Bengal’s diet. It also helps to keep your Bengal’s coat shiny.
Royal Canin contains breed-specific nutrients to help with your cat’s overall health. It also helps to maintain Bengal’s muscle mass. The kibble itself is designed with the breed in mind.
It is Y shaped which is a good shape for a Bengal’s wider jaw. The dry kibble will help with your cat’s overall oral health.
The protein in this food is highly digestible. The formula is suitable for neutered cats and will not make them put on any unnecessary weight. It does not come in a Bengal specific wet food, however.
Although this food is tailored specifically for Bengals, it does contain ingredients such as wheat and corn which can disagree with this breed.
While the overall food is good, the protein content is not stated. This is worth keeping in mind if your cat does have a particularly sensitive stomach.
Pros
- Tailored specifically towards Bengal cats
- Helps to maintain muscle mass
- Y shaped kibble created for the Bengals larger jaw
Cons
- Royal Canin contains ingredients such as corn and wheat which can potentially disagree with your Bengal
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Buyer’s Guide
Here is a useful buyer’s guide that contains everything you should be aware of before purchasing Bengal cat food.
Cost
The cost of the food you are purchasing is important. While you want to choose the food of the highest quality, it is important to stay within your budget.
While some foods are more expensive than others, the key is to look for the highest protein content food in your price range.
It is worth remembering that cheaper food is not always a bargain. Cheap food tends to include a lot of filler. So while it is cheaper to buy, it will not fill up your cat for as long when compared to better quality food.
Better quality food is fed in smaller quantities and will satisfy your cat for longer. Given this, the cost per day is lower overall when compared to cheaper food.
Brand
In addition to the cost, sometimes cat food is more expensive because you are paying for the brand.
While the majority of the well-known brands are of good quality, it is always worth double-checking if the ingredients are suitable before purchasing.
Wet vs Dry
As with all cats, you should try to feed your Bengal cat both wet and dry food. If you can feed them wet and dried food made by the same company, this is the best option.
Cat’s tend to drink less water and given this, wet food will help to keep them hydrated. While wet food is great for cats, its softer consistency could potentially cause softer stools.
In addition to this, wet food is more likely to cause a build-up of tartar and plaque on your cat’s teeth over time.
The dry food will help to scrape off the plaque and tartar build up. Given this, it is best to give your cat a mixture of both dry and wet food.
High Protein Content
One of the most important things to look for in cat food for Bengals is high protein content.
All cats should have a high protein diet, however, it is even more important in Bengals. This is because Bengals are different from your average house cat in several ways.
The Bengal breed was created by breeding domestic cats with Asian Leopard cats.
You may have heard that Bengals can be a bit on the wilder side and this is often why! They have only been an acknowledged breed since the 1950s. Given this, experts are still learning more about this breed.
Bengals have a particularly high activity level and require a higher calorie diet than your average house cat. In addition to this, they are not used to a standard cat food diet.
While a cheap supermarket brand is fine for a standard domesticated house cat, this is not the best choice for a Bengal. This sort of diet can do more harm than good.
Food Intolerances
In addition to a high protein diet, you need to be cautious about the other ingredients that are included in cat food.
Unfortunately, Bengals are known for suffering from stomach and digestive issues. Given this, the simpler the food, and the lower the ingredients list, the better.
If you give your Bengal a diet that is high in carbohydrates, fillers, and additives, they will likely suffer from diarrhea, bloating, and constipation.
Given this, their food should reflect the diet they would have had in the wild as much as possible. This means a high protein content and as little processed foods as possible.
Vitamins and Minerals
As with all cats, your Bengal must receive a complete diet.
The food that you are feeding them should include the essential vitamins and minerals they need in addition to protein.
Bengals still need things such as taurine, fortified food, antioxidants, and fiber in their diet.
What About Raw Food?
If you have been researching Bengal food, you may have come across discussions about raw food. While we have not included any frozen raw food in this article, it is worth considering if your Bengal cat does not thrive on wet or dry cat food.
Raw food is more difficult to feed your cats and tends to be very expensive. Unless you buy complete nuggets, you will need to mix your carbohydrates and veg in with the defrosted raw meat for your cat to have a complete diet.
Raw food is as it sounds. It is frozen raw meat that has been defrosted. You will need to defrost the food in the refrigerator overnight and it should not be mixed with dry cat food.
As it is raw, it comes with the same health concerns as raw meat humans would eat. While it is perfectly safe for cats to eat when it has been defrosted, there are still risks of foodborne illnesses that could linger on your surfaces.
If your cat licks you or your child after eating raw food, this can also potentially make you ill.
In addition to this, you need to ensure that your cat is getting the correct amount of each food group. If they are not, this can lead to deficiencies. It is a lot more difficult to keep track of a Bengal’s high-calorie diet with raw food.
Raw food is not the easiest thing to feed your cat and does require a lot more preparation. Given this, many people choose to feed freeze-dried raw food or a high protein wet and dried food instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Food Should I Feed My Bengal Cat?
There is no single correct answer to this question as every Bengal cat will eat a different amount of food.
The amount of food given should be based on the age, weight, and overall activity levels of your cat.
We would recommend always checking the back of the packaging as the daily intake will vary between brands. Once you have a rough estimate, it is then up to you to decide if this is suitable for your Bengal.
If you are unsure, we would always recommend chatting with your local veterinarian for further advice.
How Often Should I Feed My Bengal Cat?
This will depend on the age of your cat. We would always recommend splitting the daily allowance of food up into smaller portions.
For adult cats, it is recommended to feed them twice a day. If your Bengal is more active you can increase this to three times a day.
Kittens should be fed in smaller portions more often throughout the day. A good amount would be around 3-4 times.
