Bengal Cat History and Overview

The Bengal Cat

The Bengal Cat is a new and exciting breed of domestic cat, bred to resemble small leopards. Many of us have yearned to own one of the exotic big cats, with their wonderfully luxurious coats and their powerfully graceful build. Imagine, having a beautiful spotted leopard in your living room! But imagine this animal to have the personality of a domestic cat, and be of a size that is practical for your home. This is the Bengal Cat.

The Bengal breed originated from a cross between a domestic cat and the wild Asian Leopard Cat. This species of small wild cat, comparable to the Ocelot or Margay, weighs about 10-15 pounds. By selective breeding for temperament as well as beauty, Bengal cats have evolved that are small replicas of their wild ancestors, but have loving dependable personalities.

 

Bengals are registered with many cat registries, including The International Cat Association, The Cat Fanciers Federation, The American Cat Fanciers Association, United Feline Organization, The Canadian Cat Fancy, The Governing Council of Great Britain, and the European Cat Club FiFE. Individual Bengals must have a four generation pedigree of only Bengal-to-Bengal matings in order to be shown in competition.

Kittens are priced according to quality, those most fitting the desired standard are considered to be the show quality kittens. These naturally exhibit the brightest colors, the clearest contrast, and the best patterns with little or no barring (rib-stripes). These look most the miniature leopards they are meant to resemble, with long sleek muscular bodies, relatively small ears, puffy whisker pads, thick tails, and light undersides. Unique to the Bengal breed also, is the presence of gold tipped hairs throughout the coat. This is referred to as the gold "glitter" and is present in the best Bengals.

Breeder quality kittens basically have correct color and type, but my have slight flaws which would not permit them to be shown. Perhaps they might have one or two rib stripes, or maybe their color lacks bright contrast. They have, however, the pedigree and the potential to produce outstanding offspring.

Pet quality kittens might have faults that are undesirable in the breeding programs, but still have most of the traits that make the Bengal so unique. Examples of such faults might be: a kink in the tail, excessive ticking in the coat, or a white patch of hair on the throat. These kittens are for loving, not for breeding. Often, however, we sell kittens that are excellent examples of the breed, as pets to be altered. This, after all, is the best life for any cat, and we love to see our babies go into homes where we know they will be treasured family members.

Adult Bengal males weigh 14-20 pounds, and the females usually weigh 8-12 pounds. Some breeders have exorbitant claims of Bengals weighing 30-40 pounds, and this is a gross exaggeration.

The three generations closest to the cross with the Asian Leopard are known as Leopard Cat Hybrids. These cats are useful in breeding programs, and can make wonderful pets in the right homes. But they are not for everyone, as they can be high-strung, and don't always have the best litter-box habits. Bengals that are at least four generations removed from the wild, get along well with other pets, as well as children, and have domestic litterbox habits. They have the same food and immunization requirements as other domestic felines

(The above excerpt is courtesy of Gene Ducote of Gogees. Be sure to visit www.Gogees.com to order a must-have book, Getting to Know the Bengal Cat.)