A DREAM HOME
Do you have a home that matches your Bengal’s vibrant personality and its lively energy?
Do you have a home that matches your Bengal’s vibrant personality and its lively energy?
From the first day you bring your Bengal home, it will surely be non-stop entertainment as the cat owns its territory and eventually its humans.
They are energetic, athletic, highly intelligent, playful, communicative, fun-loving, affectionate, super loyal – and the list goes on. There is never a dull moment with Bengals as they turn your home into theirs. Do you have a home that matches your Bengal’s vibrant personality and its lively energy?
So what exactly do you need to have to create an enriched environment for your Bengals?
Climbing, And Lots Of It
It can be a cat tree or flat board with sisal, but it has to be tall. The commercially ready-made cat trees are not made for climbing but scratching. Bengals are muscular hunters with a need for exercise. Provide them with tall sturdy posts or boards and enjoy watching them climb their way up.
Jumping Around
This means shelves that enable ascent or descent and getting around, generally. If you have more than one Bengal cat, these strategically placed shelves, combined with climbing posts, bridges or natural cat trees will be their vertical playground and hunting ground.
A 360° round is most ideal if there is space within your home, but a wall space or two is good too with proper planning.
High Lookout Points
Bengals love to look out from, look down and rest on high places. These can be boxes to hide in, shelves, hammocks and bridges. If you do not have this provided for, Bengals will attempt to climb to the top of your fridge, cupboard, door, shower screen, laundry poles, cooker hoods, fans, chandeliers and many more unwanted places.
As long as there is a landing ground, they will be up there, even if these spots are precarious.
Perch By Open Space
Indoor cats can get bored looking at the same four walls, hence a perch by the window to watch the birds, listen to the leaves rustling or just to chill will enrich their environment.
These perches can come in the form of suspended platforms, shelves placed before windows, cat stations or bridges connecting two walls. Do remember to ensure that these windows or areas are secured for cats to safely look out from.
Bengals come from cross-breeding with Asia Leopard and domestic cats and they have the disposition of being wild, which can be a handful and challenging. Owning a Bengal keeps you on your toes and you can channel that high energy into something positive by bringing the “outdoors” into your home. Give Bengals opportunities to remain highly active to keep them happy and in turn, be happy Pawrents!
Most of us would remember a time when you could see groups of elderly gentlemen gathering at void decks with cages of birds twittering away. It was a common sight back then. While these birdmen have become a lesser force, the melodious chirping of birds continues to turn our heads to this day.
But how many of us have stopped to think about the species of birds that are contributing to this symphony? Here are some prime delegates contributing to the cacophony of bird songs in Singapore.
Mata Puteh (Oriental White-Eye)
Easily recognised by a prominent eye-ring and yellow-green coloured feathers, the Oriental White-Eye is a small songbird with powerful vocals. Known affectionately as Mata Puteh, which also means “white eye” (mata putih) in Malay, this species is not as prevalent as before (the ‘70s) likely due to a progressive loss such as mangrove and forested areas.
Hwa Mei (Chinese Thrush)
The Hwa Mei, which means “painted eyebrow” in Chinese, is a passerine bird of Eastern Asia. Another common species that can be found in Singapore, these birds are distinguished by their light grey-brown crowned head, stripes below the eyes and ears, and spots on its breast. It is also a popular cage bird due to its attractive singing abilities.
Merbok (Zebra Dove)
You may be surprised to know that this bird is a member of the dove family. Even though they look very much like a pigeon, these birds are worth quite a penny. With a long tail, and predominantly brownish-grey in colouring with black and white barrings, Merboks are well known for their pleasant soft, staccato cooing calls. Rumours have it that a record price of $96,000 exchanged hands for one such prized singer.
Merbah Jambul (Red-Whiskered Bulbul)
Believed to be an introduced species to Singapore in the 1910s as the result of escaped caged birds, the Merbah Jambul is usually seen in pairs. Easily identified by its distinctive black crest, red and white cheeks demarcated with a black malar stripe, this bird was featured on our $0.10 stamp in the 1978 postage stamp series “Singing Birds”.
White-Rumped Shama
Possibly the least common of the lot to be found on our sunny island, you can spot a WhiteRumped Shama by its glossy black head, back, and wings. Other distinguishing marks include its long tail with white outer feathers, chestnut belly and a white patch on its lower back.
It is also one of the most popular caged birds in Singapore as the richness of notes and high tonal quality, brings with it many ardent admirers.
So, have you ever heard any of these birds singing before? You may still catch their melodic songs as you walk through our nature reserves and parks. Do note, however, trapping them is an offence as such it’s best you enjoy their melodies – in their natural habitats.
If you are interested in purchasing one, approach any of the major bird shops located around the island and get the advice of the experts. They will be able to guide you along and you may end up with a songbird to call your very own!