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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.
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 weight approximately 14
pounds, and the females usually weight 8-12 pounds.
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 litter box habits. They have the same food and
immunization requirements as other domestic felines.
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Below
are a few questions & answers on the Bengal Cat, please feel
free to
email us if there are any
others you can think of!!
What is a Bengal Cat you may all be asking?
A Bengal Cat is the most purrfect animal in
the world. It is bred to mimic the look of their ancestors
"The Asian Leopard Cat". Breeders have worked for a number of
years trying to produce quality bengals with great contrast,
huge rosette spots, typey heads and small ears as well as
their long bodies. Through aiming for this goal we have also
now created the glitter gene and whited tummy, which is highly
desirable in the breed.
Are they as Large as my Dog?
We get asked this question a lot. People
understandably get the Asian Leopard Cat confused with the
Leopard. So therefore they expect this huge jungle cat, that
only eats huge chunks of meat. This is totally wrong. Bengals
are like any other cat, "Domestic". There size is
approximately. 8lb for a female with a male weighing anything
up to 14lb, this is only approximately. because each cat is
different.
So What do Bengal Cats Eat?
Bengals eat the same as any other
"Domestic" cat. Whether this be dried food, tinned food or
even a raw diet. Do not feed milk to your cat this can create
an upset stomach. They are best with fresh water.
Do They Have to Live in a Cage?
Yes, we have also been asked this question.
NO Bengal Cats DO NOT have to live in a cage!!! Bengals live
very well inside and are often raised in family homes around
children. REMEMBER THEY ARE A DOMESTIC CAT not some wild
jungle animal. So treat them like you would any other feline.
What colors can Bengals be?
Bengals come in a wide variety of colors. Below are the
most excepted colors for the breed.
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Brown Spotted Also known as Leopard
Spotted |
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Brown Marble Can be tri colored |
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Seal Sepia These are green or gold
colored eyed Snow Bengals |
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Mink As above but with a very light brown
coat |
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Seal Lynx This is for all the blue eyed
(BL-E) Snow Bengals |
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Blue Blue/Gray Markings on light gray,
they do not replicate the ALC, so are classed at present as
an unwanted gene |
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Black These are black markings on a black
background, some breeders call them "Pantherettes"
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Silver Silver background with black/brown
spots |
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The main colors we see are Brown
Spotted/marble and snows, either blue eyed or any other
color.
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What Are The Fuzzies?
Bengals do not have fur but more of a pelt
coat, this is a lovely soft coat that came from their wild
ancestors. From around 4 weeks the kittens will begin to get
what is called the fuzzies, this is something else that is
past down from their ancestors and provides them with a
camouflage in the wild. The fuzzies is when a kitten begins to
grow longer gray guard hairs which disguise the spots from a
front view, but the beautiful markings can still be seen from
behind. |
A proud member, in good standing, of The International Cat
Association. All our kittens are registered w/ TICA and come w/
appropriate papers.
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