Cat Breed Information | Bengal

The Bengal is a relatively new hybrid breed of cat, which exhibits the "wild" markings (such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly), and body structure reminiscent of the wild Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). The Bengal cat has a desirable "wild" appearance with a gentle domestic cat temperament, provided it is separated by at least three generations from the original crossing between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat.

The name Bengal was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), as shown above, and not from the more widely known Bengal tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal's ancestry.

History

The world's first official cat show, held at The Crystal Palace in London on 13 July 1871, gave birth to the modern Cat Fancies. The breeds shown were the Persian, Angoras, Manx, Abyssinian, the Royal Cats of Siam, and domestic cats crossed with wild cats (hybrids) as well as wild species. The 1875 cat show in Edinburgh included a special class for "Wild or Hybrid between Wild and Domestic Cats"; this was won by an Ocelot (purebred, not hybrid). The first displayed hybrids were based on Scottish Wildcats (Felis silvestris grampia) and Caffre Cats (the Egyptian variant of the North African Wildcat Felis silvestris lybica), not ALCs, but it shows that the first Cat Fancy happily embraced hybrids.

The earliest mention of an ALC/domestic cross was in 1889, Harrison Weir wrote in "Our Cats and All About Them".

There is a rich-coloured brown tabby hybrid to be seen at the Zoological Society Gardens in Regent's Park, between the wild cat of Bengal and a tabby she-cat. It is handsome, but very wild. These hybrids, I am told, will breed again with tame variety, or with others. However in 1927, Mr Boden-Kloss wrote to the magazine "Cat Gossip" regarding hybrids between wild and domestic cats in Malaya: "I have never heard of hybrids between bengalensis (the Leopard Cat) and domestic cats. One of the wild tribes of the Malay Peninsula has domesticated cats, and I have seen the woman suckling bengalensis kittens, but I do not know whether the latter survive and breed with the others!"

The earliest mention of a confirmed ALC/domestic cross was in 1934 in a Belgian scientific journal, and in 1941 a Japanese cat publication printed an article about one that was kept as a pet. (As a point of interest, Jean Mill/Sugden, the person that was later to become the greatest influence of the development of the modern Bengal, submitted a term paper for her genetics class at UC Davis on the subject of cross breeding cats in 1946.

A Bengal cat displaying spotting and rosetting pattern typical of the breed. Rosetted spots occur only on the back and sides, with stripes elsewhere.

The 1960s was a period when many well known breeders, including Jean Sugden, produced ALC/domestic crosses, but records indicate that none of them took it past the F2 stage. Several zoos in Europe also produced a number of F1 ALC crosses. During this period there was an epidemic of feline leukemia virus and it became known that many wild cats seemed to have a natural immunity to the disease. As a result of this, Loyola University would start a research program in the 1970s to investigate if this natural immunity could be bred in or replicated.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s there was a great deal of activity with hybrids, but there was no significant effort to create an actual breed from them. A number of Cat clubs formed that oriented on hybrids and a few oriented specifically on something William Engler, a member of the Long Island Ocelot Club and a breeder, called a Bengal.

Club newsletters detailing the production of Bengals and Safaris started being published and members of these clubs bred some second and third generation Bengals. These were registered with the American Cat Fanciers Association (A.C.F.A.) in 1977 as experimental and were shown at several A.C.F.A. cat shows throughout the 1970s.

Appearance

There is a common misconception that Bengals are large cats, but they typically fall within the size range of a conventional domestic feline. Females are generally in the 7 to 10 pound range and males fall between 9 and 12 pounds. It is not uncommon to have a male that reaches 15 – 18 pounds. They are large-boned, well-muscled cats with the male in particular being extremely muscular. They tend to have long, lean bodies that are very striking in length, much like a cheetah when they reach and stretch. Non-altered males often continue to put on muscle mass up to two years of age.

A male Bengal cat. Note "mascara" or "spectacles" (horizontal striping around and alongside the eyes) and foreleg striping, both typical of the breed.

The face of a typical Bengal features a series of distinct horizontal stripes, popularly known as "spectacles" or "mascara", which extend from alongside the eye to the back of the neck. The most desirable face shape will have large eyes, more widely set rounded ears, wide nose with an arch, and widely set whisker pads that recall the looks of the Asian Leopard Cat. However, purebred Bengals can still have more narrow, triangular faces with slightly higher set triangular ears that recall more the domesticated genetics of the Egyptian Mau. Highly prized show Bengals will display looks more like the Leopard Cat, but all healthy, quality Bengals will have bright eyes with the distinct "mascara" lines and a M-shaped marking on the forehead. The more contrasted the light and dark markings around the eyes the more wild, endearing and less common the face of the Bengal will look. However, the contrast of such markings can lessen as an animal matures.

Eyes are a stunning golden green or gooseberry green, though in "snow" Bengal coat colors blue eyes are expected. The nose should be brick red even if rimmed in black. The ears should be rimmed in black or dark brown. Early F-generation Bengals may have a light spot (called ocelli) on the back of the ear. Higher quality Bengals have more distinct and contrasted markings. Feet pads, like a wild cat, are generally black though alternative coloring is accepted for some Bengal coat colors. One thing a good Bengal will have is all feet pads matching in color. The tail should also be thick and even, more highly contrasting in lightness and darkness near the end, with a very dark, rounded tip. Too much of a whip-like taper and less distinct banding on the tail shows too much of domesticated genes showing through.

The luxurious and unusually soft coat is marked with spots or a "marble" pattern. Shoulder and upper back stripes can be more distinct on marbled Bengals. Most markings on the outer coat will be doughnut shaped, arrowhead shaped, or marbled. The most expensive specimens will feature bi-colored, highly contrasted rosettes like those of the jaguar. The remainder of the body - including the legs and tail - consists of symmetrical stripes. Distinct from most spotted domestic cats that have plain colored bellies, a purebred Bengal displays its feral heritage in belly spots that brightly contrast against the lighter fur.

Bengals can have either spotted or marbled coat patterns. Spots with at least two colors present (rosettes) are particularly desirable. The following colors and patterns are recognized and eligible for competition: Brown Spotted Tabby, Brown Marbled Tabby, Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby, Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby, Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Spotted Lynx Point and Seal Marbled Lynx Point. Silver was also recently accepted as a color variation eligible for championship status. Blue and Melanistic (black) are additional colors that occur, but are not yet recognized by most associations that accept the Bengal breed. Pelts tend to darken over the life of the animal. Clear, smooth and glossy contrasts in the pelt colors are desirable whereas a uniform ticking -- a heritage of Abyssinian genes -- is not.

Bengal cats are the only breed of cat which displays the golden fleck or pearlescent "glitter" effect on the tips of individual hairs. Glitter, while extremely stunning on a glossy coat in sunlight, is not a breed standard, but it is a feature that breeders desire to have appear. The pelt of a healthy animal has a rich smooth satin or silky feel. (This is made even more so by a quality diet and regular brushing.) Shedding and dander is still present for this breed but is much less than usual for a short-haired cat, making the Bengal a consideration for persons with milder feline dander allergies who fancy owning a cat. (Allergies can be further lessened by keeping such a cat strictly as an indoor pet.)

Even the voice of the Bengal is different from that of other domestic cats. Males and females are extremely vocal in volume and frequency. The meow can be significantly louder than expected for domestic cats -- like a crying baby -- though other types of vocalizations such as chirps, squeaks, trills and warbles will be heard. Life expectancy is 12 to 16 years.

Personality and Training

As with any animal individual personality traits will vary. However there are several common personality traits that can be desirable and endearing, or challenging, for owners of this "dog-cat" breed. Bengals can be quiet, solitary and skittish like a wild animal but are most frequently very sociable to humans, including to visitors. Any animal that aggressively challenges or threateningly displays to a new visitor is atypical and undesirable for the breed.

Forehead butting and stretching and rolling to face the belly upward are a sign of affection and submission usually reserved for trusted individuals. Bengals, while often having strong-willed and territorial personalities, coexist well with humans. But they often coexist poorly in a household with other cats if they are already established when other cats are introduced. They seem to take pride in assertively defending their home and yard from encroaching felines and being praised for this. However, they often coexist well with many types of dogs. Bengals are also frequently patient to the poking and grabbing of small children, especially those whom they recognize.

Much about the animal's mood and desires can be discerned by the volume range and variety in the vocal sounds produced. Bengals can often be very active and "speak" loudly during the night or wee morning hours.

Bengals tend to do many things that are considered more doglike than catlike. They can be trained to travel in vehicles well. They tend to be very affectionate and greet owners when returning home by stretching and presenting the belly for scratching. They can also be very desirous of affection, often getting assertively underfoot (a possible tripping hazard) or doing willful things they know displeases the owner when attention is not promptly returned. They tend to not be adverse to water like most domestic cats, though they still usually dislike being splashed. Many owners find their Bengal enjoys jumping into the shower for a drink of fresh warm water, or sitting or playing around the bathtub.

Bengals tend to like perching on tall things and balancing on narrow places like bannister railings. This behavior can be enjoyed positively by providing places for perching or climbing. However, training Bengals to not jump on counters or furnishings that may have fragile knickknacks can be challenging, requiring persistence and patience. They are often not easily deterred by common aversion techniques of loud noises, clapping or squirt bottles. They take well to litter box training, and even sometimes to toilet training. They can learn to open doors with lever style handles and even to do simple tricks like "speaking" on command, standing, or rolling over. But they also can be very willful in their intelligence, doing things they know displeases the owner like scratching furnishings, nipping or "hunting" feet. They can take to fancying the fresh water of a toilet bowl and begging loudly for human food, especially fragrant meats and dairy, which may not be desirable to the owner. Bengals will usually permit a leash or a tie-out (tether) very well, but do not usually train to being walked on a leash and often get tangled on a tether. Therefore such control mechanisms are usually more a bother to the human owner than the animal.

The feral heritage of the breed reveals itself in a tremendous aptitude for hunting and concealment. Bengals have a distinct way of tracking prey, often crouching down low on the forelegs and wiggling the hind quarters up high while it readies for the pounce. Their way of grabbing prey with the mouth and forelegs while kicking fiercely with the rabbit-like hind legs is also very distinct. They can launch quickly to leap vertically higher than normally seen for a domestic cat to descend on prey. In neighborhoods with desirable wild bird populations, Bengal owners may want to keep a very close eye on their pet or keep it largely indoors. And, being good climbers as well, owners should be careful in letting their pet run free around tall trees. Like many domestic feline pets, owners should expect small "presents" of mice, snakes or large insects.

The hunting nature of the animal can be encouraged positively by regularly providing a well-padded arm for the pet to grasp, bite and kick, or small toys to track and hunt, or boxes, papers or blankets under which it can conceal itself. Owners should expect that walking feet, or toes under blankets, will often catch attention as "prey" for a hunt. As the animal matures it becomes more docile, but seems to stay in better emotional and physical health where it gets regular time and encouragement to hunt. By giving the animal controlled ways to satisfy its desires the owner can avoid the animal getting a taste for wild birds, tree climbing and dumpster diving.

Bengals take well to being trained from youth to permit their paws to be held and claws trimmed, making it a desirable breed for cat owners opposed to declawing. However, because of the hunting, climbing and strong-willed nature of Bengals, owners of clawed animals must still be prepared for a bit more scratches than usual with a domestic cat, even though they take to claw trimming well. Because of the way Bengals hunt and play, foreleg declawing is not sufficient to mitigate all property damage risk. Owners can help mitigate furniture damage by choosing wooden, smooth upholstered surfaces in leather, vinyl or tightly woven fabric, and rugs/carpets that tend to have a plush pile rather than tight loops. It is challenging to train Bengals to only scratch on designated posts, though it can be done.

Bengals also frequently mark territory in persons and objects by rubbing their face and body against it. This can be endearing and seemingly affectionate, but annoying if an owner is not prepared. Visiting guests may not enjoy the behavior despite the low shedding and dander of the animal. Adult males, furthermore, will mark ownership by spraying if they are not neutered. Even after an operation, males will still go through with the physical motions of spraying territory, or spraying in defiance, anger or frustration, though nothing is being issued from the body.

Bengal Photos