Bengal Cat Breed

The Bengal cat breed has a 'wild' appearance that stands out in contrast to its domestic temperament. Today, the feline is separated by at least three 'wild' generations. This cat breed is the result of a cross between an Asian Leopard and a domestic feline. It gets its name from the taxonomic name of the ALC or Asian Leopard Cat and not the Bengal tiger species. Official record on the Bengal cat breed dates back to 1871, at the world's first cat show, in London. The category 'Between Wild and Domestic Cats - Modern Cat Fancies' highlighted pure and mixed 'wild' breeds of Persian, Manx, Angoras, Abyssinian, Siam and the domestic species. In 1889, Harrison Weir mentioned the breed in 'Cats and All About Them'.

Bengal cats are rich-colored and handsome, but very wild, if provoked. This exotic feline species is the result of a lot of experimentation around the epidemic of feline leukemia virus in the 1960s and 1970s research program to study the animal's natural immunity. The felines in this category were first registered with the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1977. Nearly all Bengal pedigrees available today are the result of a cross developed around the mating of ALCs and Egyptian Maus. The establishment of the International Bengal Cat Society, Authentic Bengal Cat League and the Bengal Breeders Alliance promoted breeding practices and education to feline owners, to discourage unscrupulous breeding of the cross.

The Bengal cat is recognized as a conventional domestic feline. An adult female weighs around 10 pounds, while an adult male falls within the 12 pound range. Some males are also known to weigh more than 15 pounds. The felines have large bones and are well-muscled. At the same time, their graceful gait comes from their lean bodies that can add muscle mass to compliment body length. A Bengal cat displays distinct horizontal stripes or spots, alongside the eye and back of the neck. They have large eyes and rounded ears. Their noses arch with well-set whisker pads, highlighting a narrow, triangular face structure. Their special features include triangular ears, bright eyes, spotting and rosetting patterns and contrasted markings.

A typical feature of the breed is the alternatively colored 'foot pad'. Their tails are thick and even and the color contrast is maintained throughout the body. They have luxurious, soft coats that are bi-colored. The body, including the legs and tail, display symmetrical stripes and plain colored belly spots. The spotted or marbled coats of the Bengal cat breed makes the animal easily identifiable. They are commonly categorized as:

• Brown Spotted or Marbled Tabby.
• Seal Sepia Spotted or Marbled Tabby.
• Seal Mink Spotted or Marbled Tabby.
• Seal Spotted or Marbled Lynx Point.

Bengal cats are unique in the fact that they are the only breed of felines that display a golden fleck on each individual hair tip. This glitter not only looks extremely stunning, but also gives the pet a rich, smooth satin feel. The felines display a highly reduced 'shedding' cycle and 'dander' presence. The Bengal's cry is very different too; much more vocal in both, frequency and volume. The cry has been compared to that of a crying baby, chirp, squeak and even warble. This breed enjoys a lifespan of approximately 16 years and most personality traits vary according to the training imparted. Bengals are known to be quiet and solitary creatures. Their fondness is communicated via forehead butting, rolling with the belly upwards and stretching. Bengals love perching on tall, narrow places. They take to litter box training very well and amuse pet owners with quickly learned tricks such as opening lever style handles and 'mewing' on command. They enjoy human food, ready-made cat food, meat and dairy and consume a lot of water.