Bengal
Bengal History
- A hybrid breed, created by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat, such as an Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Burmese or Egyptian Mau.
- Japan is the first country to welcome Bengals as family cats in the 1940s.
- Bengals are recognized as a breed by The International Cat Association (TICA) - providing the show cats are at least a fourth-generation descendant of the wild Asian Leopard Cat-domestic cat crossing. However, the Cat Fanciers Association does not accept the Bengal as a breed for show competition.
- With the "pet leopard" appearance, the Bengal is zooming up the popularity charts, ranking first in TICA, far ahead of runner-up Ragdoll. More than 60,000 Bengals are registered with TICA.
- The International Bengal Cat Society and TICA work hard to maintain the Bengal's "wild" look with a "tame" personality.
Bengal Behavior Concerns
- Highly active and full of energy.
- Extremely alert and attentive. They watch and learn from people on how to open doors and cabinets and other behaviors.
- Look up because most Bengals love to survey their surroundings perched on high shelves and tops of refrigerators.
- Very demanding. They want and need interaction with people and pets in the household.
- Potential challenging temperament. Experienced cat owners can channel the Bengal's energy and intelligence into productive play and basic obedience commands.
- Be aware that some Bengals make growling sounds when they eat.
Look of Bengals
- Sleek, muscular body.
- Wild exotic looks, sporting 13 different color coats, including brown tabby and seal lynx point. Coat patterns are spotted or marbled.
- Wedge-shaped head, almond eyes, wide nose, strong chin and rounded-tipped ears.
- Distinctive "prowl-like" walk due to the fact that the Bengal's back legs are slightly longer than the front legs.
- Bengals grow slow, taking up to two years before reaching physical maturity.
Grooming Bengal Cats
- Coat is short to medium in length.
- Coat offers a silky feel.
- Medium shedding
Suggested Nutritional Needs for Bengal
- Their high-activity level enables them to burn off excess calories and maintain a healthy weight.
Fun Facts of Bengals
- A true cat burglar, Bengals like to steal shiny household objects and hide them.
- Bengals rank among the most expensive cat breeds. A show-quality Bengal can cost around $2,000.
- Bengals love to fetch, play in water bowls and walk on leashes.
