| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Colors: | Brown-spotted or snow-spotted, brown, seal lynx point, mink, sepia, silver |
| Average Size: | Weight: 10 – 15 lbs(4.5- 6.8 kg) Length: Small (about 16 inches) |
| Life Span: | 12 to 16 years |
| Coat: | Short |
| Personality: | Very sweet and loving, curious and alert. needs to run, jump, and romp to be contented |
| Characteristics: | Energy: High Talkative: High Kid Friendly: Yes Less Allergic: No |
Bengal cats are still a rare breed and are a combination of beautiful “wild” colors and patterns of the Asian leopard cat and reliable and affectionate nature of a domestic cat. Asian leopard cat is a small wild animal that weights only about 4.5 pounds and which inhabits the forests of South Asia.
During the sixties of the 20th century there was a fear that the Asian leopard cat will be extinct which led Jean Sagden (later Mill) from California towards the effort of preserving this breed by mating it with domestic cats.
Other wild cats, such as the Ocelot and margay, often found their way into homes where they successfully mated with house cats, and in most cases their descendants have the same temperament as well as their wild parents.
Ten years later, dr Willard Sentervol from the University of California continued the breeding program while researching natural immunity of Asian leopard cat to cat leukemia. From these beginnings developed a beautiful Bengal cat. So, the first Bengal cat, named Millwood Finally Found, was registered in 1983 year.
While early crossing with cats without a pedigree introduced some “undesirable” genes for long hair, later crossing with Indian and Egyptian Mau cats introduced genes for speckled pattern, Siamese pattern fur and blue eyes, which gave stunningly beautiful “snow” shades.
However, Bengal cat breeders were delighted with the random crossing with cats without a pedigree because this produced quite stunning colors which are described as “pearl dust” on the fur.
Bengal cat is very similar to the Asian leopard cat. Spots are dark brown or black and should not look like the vertical stripes on the brindle-striped cat which is a hidden pattern of most spotted striped cats.
As can be expected of the breed that comes from a small leopard, Bengal cat is a very strong animal with chest and curved claws on strong legs and muscular neck. The head is small and rounded, wedge-shaped with a short nose that is in terracotta color and trimmed in black.
The ears are short without tufts of hair. The eyes are large, oval and green, and set slightly obliquely. Like their wild ancestors, these cats are excellent hunters but they also make excellent pets.
While some consider the Bengal cat is still wild at heart and temperament, other just say that this may be true for all cats regardless of their breed!
If you want a leopard but cannot get one, then the Bengal Cat is the next best thing. However, it is also a great cat breed by itself. It instantly takes you to the wild with its large spots, its white belly, and its similarities with the ALC or the Asian Leopard Cat. Its wild spots are found on its sides and its back. Its eyes look like it has mascara and its forelegs have stripes. These cats have either brown spots or snow spots. It has spots or marbles as its fur’s pattern. These cats are very gentle and are domesticated.
i was fortunate to be given a kitten that has a defect. it was born with her knee-cap on the side of her leg instead of in front. it certainly didn’t hinder her in anyway. she came to us as a mostly white kitten like a siamese kitten. then she slowly darkened into a beautiful marbled look and became quite dark in color. she is small in build and sweet but can be very aggressive. she is jealous. we have 7 cats and she gets along with all unless they get too close to me. when i got her i was told she was a Bengal. her name is Yin. the tips of her fur are sparkly in the sun. i also got a Siamese sealpont male at the same timeand his name is Yang. is there anything special i should know about the Bengal breed. i love her fiercely
Bengal. her name is Yin.
I must add that Bengals are not only spotty. Marble Bengals are not inferior in their beauty to their spotted brethren.