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Bengal Cat
Origin
United States
Height
13"-16"
Adult Weight
6-15 pounds
Life Span
12-20 years
TEMPERAMENT
Energetic, curious, affectionate, intelligent
OTHER NAMES
Leopardette
Group
Large shorthair
Price
$1,500 - $3,000
Personality and Temperament
With exotic looks to match their name, Bengal cats are a cross between the Asian leopard cat and domesticated cats. Various breeds, including the Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Abyssinian, Burmese, American Shorthair, and domestic shorthair cats, contributed to their development. Today, Bengal cats are bred from two purebred Bengal parents.
Playful and active, Bengal cats make excellent pets. Unlike some other wildcat hybrids, they enjoy affection and form close bonds with their families. While they might enjoy the occasional cuddle, Bengal cats are far from couch potatoes. This energetic breed needs plenty of daily activity and playtime to thrive.
Bengal cats love to climb and seek high vantage points, much like their wild, jungle-dwelling cousins. They are curious and like to be involved in everything, often learning how things work. Known for their mischief, Bengal cats can open doors, activate light switches, flush toilets, and empty cupboards. Their high intelligence makes them easy to train. Try teaching your Bengal cat tricks like “sit” and “shake paw,” or engaging them in games like fetch.
Care
Just like their wild cousins, Bengal cats need a diet that focuses on meat, particularly if they are members of the first three generations. Most commercial kibble is not really suitable for Bengals, as it is too high in carbohydrates. High-quality canned, fresh or raw food is a good choice as it generally has a higher meat content.
While Bengal cats are perfectly capable of grooming themselves, they appreciate attention and will enjoy brushing on a regular basis. Teach your cat to accept nail trimming from a young age, and brush their teeth daily.
Bengal cats need lots of exercise—far more than the average cat. Although most cats spend most of their time asleep, these frisky felines require numerous play sessions every day, particularly during their first few years of life.
Like many cat breeds, Bengals do have the potential to develop some known health issues. Eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) are concerns and might develop as a Bengal cat ages. The hereditary form of PRA is not limited to older cats, though. It sometimes occurs in kittens with symptoms beginning at an age as young as 12 weeks. PRA causes blindness and there is no known cure.
Characteristics
Affection Level
100%
Activity Level
90%
Pet-Friendly
90%
Kid-Friendly
100%
Sociability
80%
Intelligence
100%
Playfulness
90%
Independence
50%
Vocality
40%
Grooming
10%
History
It took decades for Bengal cats to become standardized. In 1980, Dr. Centerwall sent some of his Bengal cats to Jean Mill, who wanted to decrease the desire for fur as a fashion statement by popularizing domestic cats with exotic looks. At the same time, she hoped to reduce the demand for illegal trafficking in wild cats for the pet industry.
The breed was further developed with the addition of Tory of Delhi, a domestic street cat that was imported from India. Other breeders discovered that Egyptian Mau cats were excellent candidates for pairing with Asian Leopard cats, with the cross resulting in beautiful spotted Bengals.
The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized Bengal cats as an experimental breed in 1983, and full recognition was gained in 1993. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) granted the Bengal breed its official recognition in 2016.
The Breed Standard
Body
Bengal cats are medium to large in size, with sleek, muscular bodies. The hindquarters are slightly higher than the shoulders.
Head
The head is broad, with a modified wedge shape. Rounded contours and high cheekbones are preferable. The head is somewhat small in proportion to the cat’s body. Mature males may display jowls.
Eyes
The eyes have a round to oval shape. They are large and set wide apart. Lynx-point Bengal cats must have blue eyes; cats of other coat colors may have eyes of any color.
Ears
A Bengal cat’s ears are medium to small size with wide bases and rounded tips. They are set far apart, and follow the contours of the face when viewed from the front. When viewed in profile, the ears display a slight forward tilt. While tufting is undesirable, light, horizontal furnishings are acceptable.
Legs & Paws
The legs are of medium long length with substantial musculature. Rear legs are slightly longer than front legs. The paws are large and ground, and the knuckles appear prominent.
Tail
The Bengal cat has a medium-length tail that is proportionate to the body. The tail is thick with a tapered end and a rounded tip.
Coat
The Bengal cat has a short, soft, silky coat that lies close to the body. Glittering at the tips of the hair is desirable. Bengals may also have long hair. Long-haired Bengals are shown separately from short-haired Bengals.
Color
Bengal cats come in a variety of colors and patterns. Rosettes and spots may be displayed on the rosetted/tabby pattern. The marble pattern does not resemble classic tabby, meaning there is no circular pattern or bull’s-eye. Rosettes and spots can be present on the marble tabby.
The Bengal cat may be brown tabby, black silver tabby, blue tabby, blue lynx point, blue silver tabby, charcoal tabby, and all other tabby colors. Smoke pattern colors and melanistic pattern colors are desirable. Nose leather and paw pad color corresponds to coat color.