Bengals are striking, high-energy cats bred from domestic and Asian leopard cat ancestry. Their athleticism and curiosity make them more accident-prone than the average lap cat, and they carry several heritable conditions worth understanding. For Canadian owners, the combination of activity-driven accident risk and breed genetics makes a strong insurance case.
Common Bengal health issues
| Condition | How common | Typical treatment cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Breed-associated heart concern | High — lifelong cardiac management; can be sudden |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) | Breed-associated, genetic | Vision loss; manageable but not curable |
| Patellar luxation | Notable in the breed | Moderate to high if surgical |
| Inflammatory bowel disease / digestive sensitivity | Common in Bengals | Variable; can require ongoing diet and meds |
| Accident and injury (high activity) | Elevated — athletic, fearless climbers | Variable; falls and mishaps happen |
| Dental disease | Common in cats generally | Moderate per cleaning, recurring |
Our Recommendation
For a Bengal, comprehensive coverage enrolled early is the smart structure — you're insuring against both the heritable conditions (HCM, PRA, knees, IBD) and the accidents that come with an athletic, fearless cat. HCM is the most serious risk: it can develop silently and becomes a pre-existing exclusion once diagnosed, so insure while your Bengal is young and consider periodic cardiac screening.