Bengal Cat History

By: Mighty Pride Bengal Cattery

What is a Bengal cat?

It is not related to the Bengal Tiger, nor the Jaguar, Panther or Cheetah. It is however related to The Asian Leopard Cat.

 

About The Asian Leopard Cat

The Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat of Southeast Asia. On average it is as large as a domestic cat, but there are considerable regional differences: in Indonesia the average size is 45 cm (18 in), plus 20 cm (8 in) tail, while it is 60 cm/40 cm (24/16 in) in the Amur region. The shoulder height is 41 cm (16 in) and the weight is 4.5-6.8 kg (10-15 lbs). The fur is also quite variable: it is yellow in the southern populations, but silver-grey in the northern ones. The chest and the lower part of the head are white. The Leopard Cat bears black markings that may be - dependent on the subspecies - spots or rosettes. It is usually a solitary animal except for the mating season. It has litters of 2 to 4 kittens and the gestation period can vary from 65 to 70 days.

 

The habitat of this cat is forests and rainforest both in low and mountainous areas, usually not arid areas. It lives close to watercourses and may be found in heights up to 3000 m. The Leopard Cat can climb trees skilfully. It is also able to swim, but will seldom do so.

 

The Leopard Cat is a nocturnal animal hunting for hares, birds, rodents and other small mammals, and even bats. When entering villages, it may be a threat to the domestic poultry.

 

How the Bengal Cat Was Developed

The Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) can be found in southeastern Asia and is a wild species that has been crossed with a domestic cat to produce a new Purebred, the Bengal.

 

About the Bengal

The Bengal was developed in an attempt to combine the look of the wild ALC with the temperament of the domesticated cat.

 

The modern breed was pioneered in the United States in 1963 but the first Bengal was registered in 1983.

 

The F1, F2, F3 tend to retain their wild instincts as they to have preserved the self-assurance and are as confident as its leopard cat ancestors.

 

The Bengal has acquired an affectionate temperament, a loving loyal nature hence producing a miniature leopard with loving nature.

 

Does the Bengal cat make a good pet?

F4 (fourth generation separated from the wild) onwards generally make good pets so long as the Bengal is the right type of cat you’re looking for as they do have certain requirements to uphold.

 

Bengal’s can present challenging behaviour at times if something or their lifecycle does not suit them, so a Cat safe yard or garden or large outdoor cat pen is essential.

 

 Types of Bengal’s

The traditional Bengal cat has a brown colour and variation of the spotted pattern that is not seen in other cats. The spots occur in a random pattern and vary in size. The spots can be solid. Spots that have a dark outline with a lighter colour in the centre are called rosettes.

 

Bengal cats come in a variety of colours

• Brown Spotted/Rosettes/Marbled
• Snow Spotted
• Seal Lynx Point
• Seal Mink
• Seal Sepia
• Silver

 

Other Bengal qualities

• The Bengal cat is quite the talkative cat the cooing or chirruping call is quite different from that of the ordinary domestic cat.
• This adds to the impression the idea Bengal gives of being a truly wild cat (your own little leopard)
• The texture of the Bengal’s coat is unique, having the feel of satin or silk and a glittering appearance as if sprinkled with gold dust or fragments of pearl.
• Bengal’s pace like a tiger and stride like a leopard.
• Bengal’s are kitten like throughout adult hood – very playful, interactive and adores human company
• Bengal’s dislike the cold and wet weather.
• Bengal’s loves to climb to the highest observation point.
• Bengal’s have many different facial expressions and each Bengal has its own unique personality.
• Bengal’s acts more like a dog or human than a cat.
• Well-trained Bengal’s listen to voice commands however are also sometimes stubborn (selective hearing).
• Still have the wild nature and look but is friendly and content like a domestic cat and very affectionate.
• Bengal’s are also very intelligent and are good escape artists.
• Bengal’s are also known for their love of water and playful nature.