Bengal cats, while not usually a pet, are a hybrid variety of cats,
which are very homely and friendly by nature with a very wild
look. They are also very intelligent and alert. Along with being
friendly, they are very good at sports. Their distinct features
are markings such as spots and rosette. It has very close
resemblance to the Asian Leopard Cat and from its taxonomic name
was the word ‘Bengal’ derived.
Bengals have an average build. Males weigh up to fifteen pounds
and females weigh up to ten pounds. The horizontal lines on the
side of their face, which starts from the end of their eyes and
go up to the back of their neck, are known as mascara. Their
bodies have spotting which is usually rosette or some even have
a marbled coat pattern. Bengals with spots, with more than one
color, are the ones, which are more in demand. The color of
spots varies from rust to chocolate brown to cocoa to gray and
black. Their tail, hind legs and fore limbs has symmetrical
stripes. Bengals cats win championships in most of the
competitions held to award the most exotic pet because of their
looks, intelligence and friendly nature.
Bengals are a result of years of selective crossbreeding
techniques. Jean Mill of United States developed Bengals in
1970s. They are a hybrid breed created from crossing other
breeds of domestic cats like American shorthair, Egyptian maus,
ocicat, Abyssinian and other shorthaired pet cats. Basically,
they originated by crossing small Asian Leopard cat or ALC and
domestic cats. This gives them the wild and exotic look with a
friendly nature. Breeders are still working all over the globe
to develop more qualities in this breed. The foundation
generations of the filial are the first three generations of
Bengals. Most of the males of these generations didn’t have the
ability to reproduce, where as the females were. After the fifth
generation, they were no longer crossbred; instead breeding was
done between two Bengal cats.
Presently there are three kinds of Bengal cats available as
pets, the Cheetoh, the Toyger, and the Serengeti cat. The
Cheetoh are hybrid cats derived by crossing Ocicat and Bengal,
to get a breed of spotted cats. The Toyger are hybrid cats,
which are produced by crossing domestic pets that results in a
cat with stripes. The Serengeti cat has been produced by
crossing Siamese or Oriental cats to get a cat that looks like
an African Serval.
Based on their patterns they can be named as brown marbled
tabby, brown spotted tabby, seal mink marbled tabby, seal mink
spotted tabby, seal sepia marbled tabby, seal sepia spotted
tabby, seal marbled lynx point, and seal spotted lynx point.
Other than the mentioned colors, they also come in blue, grey,
and black, but still yet to get recognition across the world in
these colors.
Unlike other domestic cats, Bengals get fascinated with running
water and are easy to bathe. They get attracted to tap water,
shower and instantly jump inside the tub. They are also trained
to vocalize so as to interact with their owners. They are good
with sports and play hide and seek and also learn games very
well. Young ones need human attention and can be bonded with by
playing for at least an hour during the day and evening. They
are attention seekers and always try to be involved in human
activities. They follow their owners, but do not like to be
placed on laps. People who have made their minds to keep Bengals
as pet should be aware that they have to spend lots of time with
the cat, otherwise it will get bored. And if the cat gets bored
it can get frustrated and can trouble a lot. They have a very
high energy level, which they need to let out, that can only be
done by keeping them occupied with activities. Owners who do not
have time to spare should certainly keep Bengals in pairs, so
that they can play with each other. But both the Bengals should
be given equal attention, otherwise the neglected one tends to
become envious of the other.