Description

The Bengal began as a hybrid of the Asian leopard cat and the domestic cat, to create a wild-looking cat with a friendly nature. The resulting cat is the modern Bengal. They are much larger than most domestic cats, with particularly long hind-legs making the hindquarters slightly higher than the cat’s shoulders. The Bengal has a slightly wedge-shaped head with prominent cheekbones and a slightly curved profile. The body is lithe and strong, from the muscular neck to the rounded top of the tail.

Look

The wild-looking Bengal has stunning fur, patterned with rosettes, spots, stripes, and sometimes a white belly. Bengals normally have rosettes or spots on the back and sides of their body, with stripes on other parts of the body. They often have stripes near their large eyes that resemble mascara, highlighting their beautiful green or blue eyes.

Health

The Bengal is a generally a healthy, hardy cat, but they are prone to a few healthy problems.

• Distal neuropathy

• Flat-chested kitten syndrome

• Hip dysplasia

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Patellar luxation

• Progressive retinal atrophy

At KittenGuru.com, we recommend that you buy your kitten from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines. KittenGuru.com’s Health Guarantee certifies that all promoted kittens are in good health.

Temperament

The current Bengal cat is at least three or four years removed from its wild ancestor, the Asiatic Leopard cat. They are as curious as they are energetic, and as affectionate as they are intelligent. On the whole, this is a confident and cat breed that loves to play, and gets on well with just about everybody.

Living with

If you have your heart set on a Bengal, be prepared to cope with a very energetic and potentially destructive cat. The Bengal is both intelligent and lively, and without an outlet for its vigour, may cause mischief or destruction, ranging from learning how to operate light switches to fishing goldfish out of the neighbour’s pond (Bengal cats actually like water to the point where they may try to join you for a shower). Daily play sessions are a must, as are plenty of toys. You can take advantage of your Bengal’s intelligence by teaching it tricks or how to walk on a leash: leash walking is an excellent way to harness the Bengal vigour! Puzzle toys are also great fun for this clever cat. If you successfully manage to tire your Bengal out with playtime and puzzles, your feline friend will happily curl up on your lap or on the bed. They are loving and affectionate animals, and a friend to all the family.