Bengal Cat - The Bengal was developed in an attempt to combine the look of the wild Asian Leopard Cat with the temperament of the domesticate cat.
Because this involved crossing domestic cats with the wild cats indigenous to south east asia, the breeding programs have met with some controversy. To gain acceptance, it needs to establish that wild tendencies have been bred out, and that the new breed has the ability to reproduce a consistent type. The first Bengal litters born of wild/domestic parents (known as the F1 generation) tended to produce non fertile males and only partially fertile females, and in some cases the temperament has been unstable. Most associations, therefore, do not allow these early generations to be shown, and they are often not suitable as pets.
A young bengal shows off the muscular and athletic body it has inherited from its wild relations, and the spotted tummy so desirable in breeding standards.
Although the modern breed was pioneered in the desert state of Arizona in the United States during the 1960s, it is not registered as a championship breed by all American cat associations. Most of the american varieties are shades of brown. The Bengal is on its way to gaining provisional status in the United Kingdom, where spotted and marbled variations are being bred. There has been a huge increase in Bengal breeding lines throughout the world, possibly because of the high prices commanded by the kittens.
This Leopard spotted youngster is beginning to show the desirable patterns that will be clearly outlines in maturity, but at present are slightly masked by the wooly kitten coat.
The concept of hybrids between small wild cat species and domestic varieties is not new. There is a record of a prototype Bengal at the London Zoo sometime before 1889, and at a Dutch cattery during the 1960s.
The snow spotted Bengal is a paler version of the spotted variety. The pale background color is the result of the recessive Siamese gene, and is complemented by clear blue eyes.
The modern breed is very striking, it is long, sleek and muscular with beautifully patterned fur. Its coat is its unique feature, quite unlike any other domestic breed, being more akin to the feel of a wild cat’s pelt. Smallish, forward pointing ears extend straight up frm the sides of the broadly wedge shaped head.
A marbled Bengal displays the dramatic coat pattern and long, prowling bodyline.
Bengal Cat Breed Information:
Coat – short to medium, very dense, and unusually soft to the touch
Eyes – oval, large, not bold
Grooming – regular stroking, some brushing
Temperament – active, playful, loves water
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