Bengal Cats and Bengal Kittens
Want to know all about Bengal Cats and Bengal Kittens? Read this article to find out!
History and Origin of Bengal Cats
The Bengal cat is a relatively new hybrid breed of cat, created by the cross of a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat.
Bengal cats have wild leopard looking markings, such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly, and a body structure reminiscent of the Asian Leopard Cat.
The bengal cat breed typically also has a “mascara” (horizontal striping alongside the eyes), and foreleg striping.
The Bengal cat is usually either classed as brown-spotted or snow-spotted (although there are more colours, brown and snow are the only colours that the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy recognize). Within brown Bengals, there are either marble or spotted markings.
Snow Bengals are also either marble or spotted and mostly have blue eyes.
The snow Bengal colors are seal lynx point, seal sepia tabby, and seal mink tabby.
While the Bengal cat has a “wild” appearance the bengal cats temperament is gentle and loving.
Most bengal cats are know to love water. Some people even say that their bengal cat takes bubble baths with them!
It is best to introduce a bengal kitten to baths and water slowly and gently without scaring him by throwing him into a bath or pool.
Although bengals have become a popular cat breed, with over 60,000 cats registered with T.I.C.A.not all cat registries accept them – in particular the Cat Fanciers’ Association does not accept any hybrids.
Here are currently several varieties of domestic cats that have come from the Bengal:
- The Serengeti cat: developed from crosses with Oriental Shorthair or Siamese with the aim to produce a domestic cat mimicking the appearance of an African Serval, without actually incorporating Serval genes by hybridization.
- The Savannah, which does include serval genes.
- The Toyger: developed from crosses with domestic cats with the aim to produce a striped “toy Tiger”.
- The Cheetoh: an attempt to blend two existing domestic breeds of spotted cats with defined characteristics (Bengal and Ocicat), into a third breed.
Bengal Cat Breed Temperament
After three generations from the original crossing, the breed usually acquires a gentle domestic cat temperament; however, for the typical pet owner, a Bengal cat kept as a pet should be at least four generations removed from the Leopard Cat.
The so-called “foundation cats” from the first three filial generations of breeding are usually reserved for breeding purposes or the specialty pet home environment.
P.S.: Looking for a Bengal Cat for Sale? Check out our FREE Cat Classifieds!
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Purrrs,
MamaMia