Bengal

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 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.

The need-to-know

Highly active and inquisitive cat
Friendly but independent cat
Very talkative cat
Lean and elegant cat breed
Requires grooming once a week
Non hypoallergenic breed
Outdoor cat
May require familiarisation before living with children

Personality

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, '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.

History and Origins

Country of Origin: USAThe 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.

Nutrition and Feeding

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health. So it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

Other Information

Health and common issues

There are no inherited defects listed for the Bengal cat breed yet but it is suggested that they may have a higher prevalence of a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than some breeds. Some Bengal cats also seem to be more susceptible to feline infectious peritonitis.

Best cat breeds for children

While this breed is not widely recognised as one of the best breeds for children, all cats are different and with the proper familiarisation may still be able to live with children.