Bengal | Cat Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

The Bengal cat is a hybrid cat born between the cross of a domestic cat and a leopard cat (an Asian wild cat), for this reason, many people today wonder if the Bengal cat is a wild cat. The proper name of “Bengal cat” was born after the name of the wild relative also sometimes called Bengal cat. The breeding of this cat has been practiced since 1963 in the United States of America using human intervention.

Who doesn’t want to pet a leopard? And to have such a cat as a pet? Felinologists have tried and bred a breed of domestic cat that looks like a wild animal, but at the same time is absolutely social.

Cats-sheet-Bengal

Bengal cat photos

[foogallery id=”44306″]

Physical characteristics

The Bengal is a strong and muscular cat, sturdy and heavier than other cats of similar size. This is because the bones of this breed are also heavier and denser than what might be considered normal, which makes this animal a unique presence compared to other domestic cat breeds.

The weight. Females- from 4 to 6 kg. Males- from 5 to 8 kg.

Cats-characteristics-Bengal

Distinctive features

  • Body. Sizes are medium to large. Long, muscular, very strong.
  • Head. Wedge-shaped. Massive. Longer than wide.
  • Muzzle. Wide, powerful.
  • Neck. Long, powerful and muscular, in proportion to head and body.
  • Ears. Size small to medium. Round shape. Slightly leaning forward. High placed, have a wide base. Make sure you have a patch of wild color on the ears.
  • Chin. Massive.
  • Nose. Curved, tall and wide.
  • Play. Plump with large mustache pads.
  • Eyes. Big. They are almond shaped. All colors are allowed except aquamarine and blue. The exception is snow bengal. They have light blue eyes.
  • Paws. Round, powerful and wide. The back ones are longer than the front ones.
  • Tail. Medium length, thick, lint free. At the end of the tail is a rounded tip. Along the entire length – there are spots or rings.
  • Coat. Short. Dense texture, very soft (like silk) to the touch. Awesome.
  • Drawing on wool. Two are allowed: spotted (with or without rosettes) and marbled.
  • Color. The standard recognizes 6 types of color: mottled brown,

Character and behavior

The Bengal cat is a cute and beautiful animal. He thinks often. Thus, a cat can freeze in a certain position and stare at one point for a long time. This indicates the intelligence of the animal.

They love affection and attention. They are affectionate and friendly. Cats of this breed like to be active and show curiosity about everything. But it should be noted that these cats are quick-witted and will “poke their noses where they sense danger.”

If you are unfamiliar with this breed, you may decide they are aggressive. But that’s not even true! From a wild animal, the Bengal borrowed only 20% of the genes. The cat is strongly attached to its owners and is very bored when they are not at home.

These individuals are very fond of accompanying their beloved owner, wherever he goes. In the apartment, they will always be there: on the floor, on the sofa, in the bed, in the bathroom. Like ponytails, these cute pets follow their household around the house.

The Bengal cat loves to swim. He can take baths with the owner and will feel wonderful doing so.

With children and other animals

They get along well with other pets in the house, they love children and outdoor games with them. Cats love nature, new smells, herbs…

Health

To ensure the good health of our Bengal cat (as well as any other breed of cat) it is necessary to strictly follow the vaccination schedule of the cat, even if he does not have access to the outside. Remember that we can carry viruses and bacteria ourselves through shoes or clothing.

Likewise, the deworming schedule should also be followed using the best deworming products for cats. Do not forget to consult the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months to carry out a general review which will help you to ensure the good health of your cat and which will be able to alert you on any pathology that went unnoticed. The most common bengal cat diseases are:

  • Lateral dislocation
  • Cerebral histoplasmosis
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Allergy
  • Progressive retinal atrophy

Life expectancy

Finally, note that the life expectancy of the Bengali cat is between 13 and 16 years.

Care

Caring for a Bengal cat is quite simple, as they love to bathe, are easy to train, and therefore won’t sharpen their claws on your chairs and sofas. The bin is easy to get used to, but keep in mind that it should be closed or have high sides, as Bengals love to bury their “trash.”

That is, nothing special is needed, only a standard set: brush hairs, vaccinate and pay attention.

Fun facts

  • Keep in mind that for a Bengal cat to truly belong to this breed, it must be a fourth generation. In other words, they had to pass three previous crossings with domestic cats which guarantee that the puppies will also be domestic and sociable.
  • The first males that emerged from the cross between the domestic cat and the leopard cat were sterile, which predicts a bad future for the breed. However, after the female’s subsequent crosses with other domestic cats, the males were fertile, so it continued to develop and evolve to the present day.
  • It is such a current breed that, until 1985, it was not when it really presented itself as such to everyone. It had already been recognized in some places, but recognition of official associations was still lacking.
  • There is a very rare variety of Bengal cat, called white snow of Bengal, which was born from the crossing of the Asian leopard cat and the Siamese cat. However, it is very rare to find specimens with a white coat.
  • The meowing of the Bengal cat is very particular. Sometimes it will be soft like that of any domestic cat, but it could also show a deep, low meow, which is much more like that of a wild animal. An indication of his state of mind that deserves reflection.
  • The Bengal cat loves water – he will gladly splash in the bathtub, follow his owner in the pool and even follow his owner into the pond.
  • Their genotype contains the gene responsible for the sparkling shine of the coat.
  • Bengal cats are talkers. They can make a wide variety of sounds – from gentle and soft, lingering and quiet to sudden shouts, loud and harsh.
  • Kittens have fizzing. The phenomenon when at a young age the spots of kittens are indistinct, the basic tone of the coat does not yet acquire all the characteristics that are in adult cats. This property is associated with the need for wild relatives to disguise themselves in order to protect the young from dangerous predators, since the color of the kittens merges well with the environment.
  • Contradictory nature – The Bengal cat is an affectionate and a sensual cat, but if such cats are not in the spirit – they can bite and beat with their paws. These pets require attention and at the same time, they need a personal space in which no one can penetrate. They are stubborn, but at the same time they lend themselves well to education and training.
  • ove for the heights. These pets always try to climb on cabinets and shelves, if not educated, they can climb the curtains.
  • Bengals are well accustomed to ammunition – they easily allow themselves to put on harnesses, collars and vests, walk on a leash without any problems, just like dogs.
  • Personality traits depend on the generation. The most good-natured cats are born in the 4th generation and above. Kindred born in previous generations are more likely to show stubbornness and self-will.

History of the breed

Bengal is a relatively recent cat breed, created by crossing an Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat in the US. The Bengal owes its name to the Latin name of its wild ancestor, Felis bengalensis (Asian leopard cat).

When developing the domestic Bengal cat breed, it was intended to maintain a strong physique that reminded of its beautiful wild ancestor and, at the same time, obtain a pleasant and trustworthy companion for the whole family. Currently, Bengal cats are the fifth most popular breed in the United Kingdom.