Origin
Asia & United States
Personality
- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Very talkative cat
- Lean and elegant cat breed
- Requires grooming once a week
- Non-Hypoallergenic breed
- Outdoor cat
- May require familiarization before living with children
Bengal cats have an affectionate disposition. They have an extremely energetic, playful nature. Bengal cats are intelligent and seem to look at everything around them as if to say… ‘can this be played with’?
They are agile, love to climb and can be vocal with a distinctive voice which has been described as a cooing or chirping, or as a strange gravelly sound. Bengal cats are a very vocal breed and have a wide vocabulary that may on occasion be quite strident, especially in unfamiliar situations. They need companionship during the day to prevent boredom as well as opportunities to climb and simulate hunting. While this breed is not widely recognized as one of the best breeds for children, all cats are different and with the proper familiarization may still be able to live with children.
History
The Bengal cat is a relatively new breed of cat that was originally created by crossing an Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat in the USA.
The Bengal cat derives its name from the Latin name of its wild ancestor, Felis Bengalensis (Asian Leopard Cat). The goal in developing the domestic Bengal cat breed was to preserve a strong physical resemblance to its beautiful wild ancestor and, at the same time, the new domestic breed was designed to be a pleasant and trustworthy family companion. Bengal cats are now ranked as the fifth most popular breed in the UK.
Did You Know?
Did you know cat hair isn’t the cause of reactions by people sensitized to cat allergens? The primary cause is an allergen produced in cats’ saliva. These allergens are spread to cats’ hair through grooming, which are then shed into the environment.
Appearance & Coat
The Bengal cat is a large, sleek and very muscular cat with a thick tail that is carried low. The Bengal cat’s wild appearance is enhanced by its distinctive thick and luxurious spotted or marbled coat. Its broad head has small ears and pronounced whisker pads and its eyes are black rimmed and almond shaped. The tail is thick, tapering to a black tip. There is no other breed of cat which displays the gold or pearl dusting effect (glitter) found on some Bengal cats and can be very demanding because of high activity levels.
