The Bengal cat breed are not only one of the most beautiful breeds of cat, they are also one of the most playful with high energy levels with a cheeky sense of humor that will keep you entertained for hours.
If you are looking for a chilled out lap cat, then the Bengal cat is not for you. They are highly active creatures who always want to explore and do things.
They can be a bit boisterous at times but this is because they get bored very easily. That being said, they are by no means aggressive. They are extremely intelligent and make great family pets.
Keeping a Bengal cat requires a bit of planning and knowledge to ensure they are receiving optimum mental and physical stimulation. This article will teach you everything you need to know regarding the Bengal cat breed.
Bengal
WEIGHT: 8-15 pounds
LENGTH: Medium-Large
COAT: Spotted or marbled coats with patterns outlined in black, chocolate, or gray/silver
COAT COLORS: Cream / Brown / Chocolate / Grey
EYE COLOR: Green or gold
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-16 years
Bengals are a hybrid breed who are very sleek, muscular, and athletic in appearance. They have long muscular legs and can weigh 8-15 pounds.
The head appears small in comparison to the body with large green or blue eyes and high cheekbones. The ears are relatively small with a wide base with rounded tips.
The most recognisable and striking feature of the Bengal cat is it's markings that are very similar to their wild ancestors. Owning a Bengal is like having an exotic creature roaming around your home.
Bengal Cat Colours
Bengal cats come in a range of around 6 different colors which are divided by The International Association (TICA) into standard and non-standard.
Standard Bengal colours:
- Snow
- Brown
- Silver
Non-recognized Bengal colors:
- Charcoal
- Blue
- Melanistic (solid black)
You can also get a mix of the above colors which create a unique tone.
Bengal Cat Patterns And Markings
As well as color, Bengal cats also come in a number of different patterns and markings.
Spotted Coat
The spotted coat is one of the most popular due to it resembling that of a wild leopard, and was recognized for Championship status (TICA) in 1991.
They generally have small to medium sized spots that are randomly scattered over their entire body either horizontally or diagonally.
Marbled Coat
The first marble Bengal kitten was produced by Jean Mill (Millwood cattery) in 1987. It was granted championship status with TICA in 1993 and is derived from the swirly stripes of a tabby cat.
Again like the spotted coat, the marble asymmetrical pattern randomly covers the body, flowing horizontally and made of two or more swirls of color. There are four official types of marbled coat:
- Horizontal flow
- Reduced horizontal flow
- Chaos pattern
- Sheet marble pattern
Sparbled Coat
This kind of coat is where marble and spots collide to form the sparbled coat, but it is not an official pattern.
Characteristics Of The Bengal
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History of the Bengal Cat
The Bengal cat breed is a hybrid of a successful pairing of a domestic and a wild cat. Although an attempt had been made to pair a domestic cat with an Asian leopard cat prior to the 1960s, Bengal cat hybrids can be credited to Jean Sudgen Mill in the 1970s.
This amateur breeder from California become involved with a group of cats that were bred specifically for genetic testing by Dr. Willard Centerwall of Loyola University.
The tests involved cross breeding Asian Leopards with domestic cats to check for the development for partial immunity to feline leukemia. After the tests, Dr. Centerwell searched for appropriate homes instead of destroying the cats.
This is where Jean came in who took in interest in the cats from the program who were showing domestic temperament and spotting patterns with a keen interest in breeding Asian leopard hybrids.
She had already done her first experiments in cat hybridization in the 1940s whilst studying genetics at UC Davis. At the time, most breeders were against breeding a domestic with a wild cat.
It wasn't until the 1980s where many associations such as The International Cat Association began to include the Bengal breed. Ms. Sudgen had been warned that the pairings would be sterile.
Although this had proven to be true with the males, the female hybrids were perfectly fine. The problem was, she now needed an appropriate male that she could use to cross with her female Asian leopard hybrids.
Some of the options such as Burmese, Mau, and Abyssinian pure breeds were considered not genetically strong enough. The breakthrough happened in 1982 at New Delhi Zoo when a curator pointed out a leopard-like street cat.
At the time, this cat was living on it's at at the zoo in the same exhibit as the rhinoceros. Within a few years, this new found cat proved to be a success and an excellent mate for the female hybrids.
The first three generations up util the fourth generation from the original pairing of the hybrid are known as "foundation" cats. They are referred to as F1, F2, F3, F4 etc.
F1-F3 are not allowed into competitions even though they are considered as very safe and suitable to be kept as pets. The fourth generation is considered to be a pure breed and only Bengal to Bengal pairing is allowed.
This is due to the Asian leopard being omnivorous hunters who are solitary and reclusive and these wild traits need to be bred out to ensure they people and house friendly.
Personality
Bengal cats are extremely fun to live with. Not only are they extremely playful and have great personalities, but they are also highly intelligent creatures. It's also for these reasons that they can be very challenging.
If boredom sets in then they can have slightly destructive habits and are great at turning light switches and and off as well as getting into draws and storage space very easily. You'll often find a Bengal jumping into the shower with you due to their love of water.
Due to this reason, be extra cautious if you have a garden pond or an aquarium inside of your home. Bengals also love to climb and explore so you will often find them on top of the highest things in your home.
Are Bengal cats good house pets?
Bengal cats do make excellent house pets. Although they can be every challenging due to their high levels of energy, playful nature, and slightly destructive habits. They are also very loving and loyal creatures.
They have dog-like personalities who love to play games and are great at learning new tricks such as playing fetch. They even love to play in water which is great if you have children as they will play for hours in the garden during the summer months.
Are Bengal cats high maintenance?
Due to their high levels of energy and intellect, Bengal cats can be fairly high maintenance and require a large amount of mental stimulation to prevent them from getting bored.
The solution is to ensure you have a thriving cat environment inside of your home such as cat trees and towers, cat shelves, scratching posts, and a large variety of interactive cat toys. More information on this will be covered in the next section.
Why do Bengal cats bite so much?
Due to their high levels of energy and playful nature, a Bengal will bite you purely by accident and not understand that their play-biting is hurting you. A great way to prevent this behavior is to train and socialize as earl as possible when they are kittens.
They may also be biting just out of boredom, so it's important that you are providing plenty of mental and physical stimulation. For further information, you can check out a post on this blog called How do You teach a Bengal Cat Not to Bite?.
Do Bengal cats attach to one person?
Although Bengal cats are loving creatures and great with the entire family including children, you will find that they attach to and become particularly affectionate towards one person within a household.
Living Needs
As the Bengal cat breed are highly intelligent and full of energy, this means they get bored very easily. It's very important to have the following setup in your home to provide both physical and mental stimulation for your Bengal.
Interactive Puzzle Toys
Interactive toys are crucial if you have a pet Bengal and you should get as many as your budget allows. It's good to have play sessions and you should be doing this on a daily basis, but your not always going to be available.
Interactive cat toys allow your Bengal to play on their own without anybody physically being there.
Climbing Furniture
Bengals love to climb, so it's important to to have a variety of cat furniture in your home that allows them to do this. The first thing we are going to look at is cat trees and towers.
If you take a look at our recommendations below, you will see that not only do they allow your cat to plenty of space to climb which is great exercise, but they also feature scratching posts and attached toys.
If your home has the space to allow it, it's a good idea to place these in front of windows. The reason being, Bengals love to watch birds and squirrels which provides great mental stimulation.
The other products to consider are cat bridges and shelves. The beauty of these are that you can place them on any wall in your home that you wish. Our absolute favorite is The Juggernaut by catastrophic creations.
It's a little on the expensive side, but your Bengal will absolutely love it so it's worth the investment.
Scratching posts
Scratching is a natural instinct and something in which cats do out in the wild. It's important to have a number of both horizontal and vertical scratching posts in different locations around your home.
Our favorite is the MiaCara Volto by Tuft and Paw as you can see in the image below. As you can see, it looks absolutely fantastic as part of your home decor.
If you are looking for cheaper alternatives then Amazon has a large selection.
Bengal Cat Grooming And Care
You should comb your Bengal on a weekly basis to remove any dead hair. This will help to prevent the build up of hairballs.
As with other domestic cats, it's a good idea to trim their nails every couple of weeks or so. We wrote a full guide on How To Cut Your Cats Nails At Home. If you do not feel confident enough to do it yourself, then take your cat to a veterinarian.
Their litter box should be regularly cleaned to prevent it from smelling. As mentioned in the section above, providing plenty of toys and have daily play sessions with your Bengal is important for stimulation and to build a great bond between the pair of you.
It's important to keep your Bengal as an indoor cat. This protects them from all of the outdoor dangers such as being attacked by predators, being hit by vehicles, and catching diseases.
One option you could do is to leash train your Bengal. The reason this works so well is because they get to experience the beauty of the outdoors which provides great stimulation for them, but without worrying about all of the dangers.
If you have any small pets such as guinea pigs or hamsters, it's best to keep them well away in a room that your Bengal doesn't go in.
Most Bengals love water, and there are some important precautions you will need to consider. Always keep the toilet seat down to prevent them from ingesting any dangerous chemicals.
If you have an aquarium or fish bowl, also keep these well out of the way of your Bengal or make sure your aquarium has a lid on it.
Common Health Problems
Bengals are generally very healthy cats, but as with many other breeds, they do have certain health issues:
- Flat-chested kitten syndrome: A mild to severe deformity.
- Hip dysplasia: Can cause lameness in severe cases.
- Distal neuropathy: A nervous system disorder that can cause weakness.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: Degenerative eye disease.
- Patellar luxation: Mild to sever dislocation of the kneecap which is hereditary.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Form of heart disease.
Diet and Nutrition
As Bengal cats are highly active, they are going to burn off more calories than a regular cat who just sleeps for a big percentage of the day. Most cats require half a can of food a day, but your Bengal may need an entire can due to their activity levels.
It's important that they consume highly nutritious food that is packed with protein.
Feeding Your Bengal Kitten
When choosing food for your Bengal kitten, it's important to look at the ingredients to make sure they do not contain any fillers like corn, by product or corn gluten. These ingredients are often found in cheaper brands.
It may mean spending a little more money, but the health of your cat should be the number one priority.
Feeding Adult Bengals
As with any other breed, Bengals all have their own unique personality and personally preferences when it comes to food. It's just a case of trial and error to see which kinds of brands or flavors they like.
Again, always read the ingredients to check for fillers, and make sure the main ingredient is always meat, poultry or fish.
Recommended Dry Food For Bengals
Recommended Wet Food For Bengals
Where to Adopt A Bengal Cat
You can search your local area for a recognised breeder that sells pure-breed Bengal cats. You can also adopt from a rescue organization:
How much do Bengal cats cost?
When buying from a good, repeatable breeder, the average price of a Bengal kitten is $1,500 - $3,000 (USD).
The range of the cost is based upon a number of factors such as the level of breeder care, the kittens traits, and what the breeder includes with the kitten.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons Of A Bengal Cat
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bengal cats aggressive?
Bengal cats are no more aggressive than any other domestic breed of cat. Bengals biting and scratching can appear to be aggressive, but this is simply due to their high levels of energy and playful nature.
Bengals are very much domesticated who are very loving and loyal towards their owners.
Are Bengal cats easy to train?
A Bengals high level of intelligence means they are one of the smartest cat breeds and easier to train than most other breeds. You can teach a Bengal all kinds of tricks such as fetch, and even train them to walk on a leash.
Are Bengals good with dogs?
Bengals make excellent companions with dogs providing the dog is cat-friendly. Due to their playful nature and ability to learn tricks very easily, Bengal cats are often described as having a dog-like personality.
How long do Bengal cats live?
You can expect a Bengal Cat to live an average of 12 to 16 years. Bengals are generally a healthy breed, but they can get hurt or sick just like other breeds of cat.
Conclusion
As you can see, Bengals are amazing creatures who not only look beautiful, but they are also very loyal and loving creatures. If you are looking for a calm cat who sits on your lap or chills on the sofa then Bengals are not for you.
Providing you can tolerate their high levels of energy and playful nature, then the Bengal cat will make the perfect pet who will get on well with the entire family, including children and other pets.
