Bengal cats are very high-energy, intelligent, and curious. They are particularly interactive with their human housemates, wanting to be in the middle of whatever the human is engaged in such as following the human around the house. While friendly and with very distinctive personalities, Bengals generally are not "lap cats." There are exceptions, but most Bengal cats prefer being petted or played with to being held. The best way to bond with a Bengal kitten is to play with it for at least half an hour every morning and every evening (and they need to be taught what is acceptable play behavior like any young animal).

Bengals often have dominant personality types and demand attention. As their activity and play requirements are high, this is not a cat best left to its own devices for long periods of time as they can be quite mischievous and destructive when bored. If an owner is likely to spend much of the day away from the cat, it is an excellent idea to have another high-energy feline companion to occupy the Bengal cat. However, bengal cats are quite capable of jealousy and spitefulness if they feel that another feline is getting more attention, or if they are being ignored.

Bengal cats can take a great deal of interest in running water. Many owners have stories about their cat's affection for running water or even jumping in a sink or tub. Bengal cats commonly play games with their owners such as "fetch" and "hide-and-seek." Bengals cats vocalize to communicate with their humans. Bonded cats can be taught tricks such as sit and shaking hands, and go outdoors on leashes for walks.