Bengal Cat

Origin and Breed history

The Bengal cat emerged from a cross between the wild Asian leopard cat and a black, short-haired domestic cat. The Californian geneticist Jean Mill was responsible for this. She wanted to save a real wildcat breed, the said Asian leopard cat, from extinction. When Mill crossed the two breeds in 1963, she laid the foundation for breeding the Bengal cats. The American is still active today as a breeder with her breeding “Millwood Bengals”.

In the further development process of the breed, various breeders tried to make the Bengal cat “more suitable for domestic cats”. Burmese and Siamese cats were crossed for this purpose. Mankind had always dreamed of bringing the wild tigers into the living room in the form of a small cat.

Today the Bengal cats are only bred as true breeds. This means that domestic or wild cats are no longer crossed. In addition, the cat breed is rarely kept as a house cat in Germany. Despite their friendly nature, the mini leopards need enough space to let off steam.

Breed Description

The eye-catching tiger pattern makes the Bengal cat look like a miniature predator. In fact, Bengal kittens are very cuddly, playful and particularly friendly. So their character has nothing in common with the traits of their wild role models from the desert.

Be it adventure, cuddling or playing. The Bengal cat is very enterprising and clever at the same time, so she likes to discover something new and is always on the go. But she prefers to do this together with her owner. The Bengal cat is very affectionate and feels most comfortable on the side of humans. It also needs a lot of space, space and access. The keeping of the Bengal cat therefore brings with it special requirements.

Appearance of the Bengal Cat

The spectacularly patterned leopard skin of the Bengal cat is fascinating . This is usually spotted or marbled. A tiger pattern, on the other hand, is rather undesirable. Because of their leopard fur, the kittens are also known as leopardettes in Germany. The colors of the hair vary between basic colors such as brown, golden, silver, orange or blue.

Bengal cats also have the charm of a tiger. You are very slim and muscular at the same time. In addition, the Bengal cats can become relatively large. The kitties measure up to 40 cm from paw to shoulder.

The tail structure of the Bengal cats is also striking. Unlike most breeds, the cat’s tail is particularly thick at the base and ends in a very thin, rounded tip.

Character and Essence

The Bengal cat has a very social nature and therefore likes to talk to you in the form of cooing and meowing. In addition, the Bengal cat is very affectionate. Cuddling, cuddling and generally spending time with her owner are among her favorite activities.

When the Bengal cat isn’t stuck to you, it prefers to make your apartment unsafe. The kittens of this breed are very enterprising. Her great curiosity and high intelligence lead her to always be on the lookout for new adventures.

Since the Leopardette is so fearless, it also arranges itself wonderfully with dogs. It is only partially suitable as a playmate for children. After all, the Bengals are very spirited. The little wild cats use their claws while playing. Because of this, the children should be a bit older when they buy a Bengal cat. In this way they can deal better with the bright bundle of energy and also help well with the upbringing of the wild leopardette.

Attitude

Lots of exercise and freedom – you should be able to offer that to the Bengal. The lively, active animal needs space to climb, stray and play. In a narrow city apartment without a garden or a large balcony, you cannot keep a Bengal cat appropriately. The best new home for the little tiger is a large house with a spacious garden.

You should also offer your Bengal enough opportunities to climb. The freedom-loving animals have enormous jumping power, no elevation is too high or too far away for them. To protect cupboards and tables, you can buy a scratching post for your Bengal cat or a special climbing course for cats. Your apartment should definitely offer space for this.

Overall, however, it is best if you keep the cat outdoors. Be prepared for the fact that she will go on a discovery tour for two days. If it still offers enough activity options at home, then the Bengal cat looks forward to returning. She also knows that I can experience something in the apartment too. Since the cat is very intelligent, it also needs varied and memory-demanding activities. So-called intelligence toys are ideal for this.

Unusually, the Bengali are also real water rats. They don’t shy away from the water, they love it. Bathtubs and aquariums are also not safe from her, so a small cat pool is a good distraction from the pools of water in your house. You can please your Bengal cat if you provide her with a small paddling pool.

Nutrition

When it comes to nutrition, the Bengal cats are not very demanding. However, BARF-based feeding is ideal, as it is most similar to the natural food of the wild cat. This means that you prepare the food for your Bengal cat yourself. So you can offer her good, nutritious and raw meat to eat. This is what the Bengal like best. If you want to keep a Bengal, you shouldn’t be afraid to feed raw pieces of meat.

Of course, you should add vegetable components to the meat that contain enough nutrients and proteins. If the cat is on the move, it can also hunt for meat itself.

Education

If the Bengal moves in with you, they want to discover and explore everything. The curious animal knows no support from cupboards, tables and the sofa. It is therefore important that you keep the bright Bengal cat busy in its first few days with you. Show her new corners and offer her toys and a scratching post so that she can really let off steam.

You should also be very consistent from the start. Although the Bengali would like to get to know your house better and examine it carefully, they should understand from the start that there are certain taboo areas. For example, if you don’t want her to make herself comfortable on the piano stool, convey that to her. First say a loud “No” and then give her a warning look that the word has a negative meaning. Also, lift them back to the floor. This is how she understands what she did wrong.

Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be strict and angry with the Bengal, just behave consistently. This also includes rewarding the cat if it bypasses the piano stool or leaves it by itself at your glance.

Maintenance

You do not have to invest so much time in caring for the Bengal cat because it is a very clean breed of cats. This means that the animals clean their fur themselves with their tongues. Nevertheless, the Bengal cat loves the feeling of being brushed. That’s why you should do her this favor every week.

When brushing your hair, watch out for ectoparasites such as ticks, mites, and fleas. Although these are not life-threatening, they can bring annoying symptoms such as diarrhea with them.

Health and Typical Diseases

For one thing, Bengal cats are prone to ectoparasites in their fur. These include ticks, mites and fleas. You can notice this when grooming your fur. The endoparasite, “Tritrichomonas fetus”, is also particularly annoying. This nests in the Bengal’s digestive tract and is transmitted through the faeces of an infected conspecific. The result is long-lasting diarrhea (tritrichomonosis). None of the parasites are life-threatening, whether in the fur or in the digestive tract. However, if the diarrhea persists, you should take your bengal cat to a vet.

On the other hand, some hereditary diseases can occur in the wild house tigers. These include diseases of the heart muscles, which can cause shortness of breath and cardiac arrhythmias after exercise. There are also genetic kidney diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease. This leads to an enlargement and reduced functionality of the kidneys.

Life expectancy of the Bengal cat

Bengal cats live on average up to 15 years, sometimes up to 16 years. However, from the age of 12, a Bengal cat is considered old and more susceptible to disease.

In addition, the fearlessness and curiosity of the Bengali can shorten their lives. Therefore, make sure that sockets, power cables and other sources of danger for the Bengal cat are always inaccessible.

Buy Bengal Cat

Have you fallen in love with the wild but kind-hearted leopardette and now want to buy a Bengal cat? Then you should be prepared for a sum of around a thousand euros. The high price does not come about because the breeders want to earn big money on the kittens. With the 1000 to 1500 Dollars costs for buying a Bengal cat, you can just about cover the keeping costs of the kittens. After all, this active, primitive breed has very special needs and cannot simply be kept in a small space.

If you want to buy a Bengal cat, however, you should also invest more than 1000 dollars. The price signals to you that it is a reputable and trustworthy breeder. Stay away from low prices and buying from so-called “multipliers”. These offer you cheap “pedigree cats without papers”, but save on health care, species-appropriate housing conditions and the search for suitable parents.

If you want to save something, the animal shelter is a great way to buy a Bengal cat. Here you can expect a price from 700 dollars and at the same time you are doing something good by buying a cat.

Decision Support

Think carefully about whether you want to buy a Bengal cat and whether you can ensure that it is kept in a species-appropriate manner. In addition, your apartment or house must offer enough space and play space as well as an opportunity for the cat to go outside. Also, be aware beforehand that the Bengal cat is more of a stray than a house cat.

If you have enough space and want a curious, active bundle of energy, nothing stands in the way of buying a Bengal cat. The majestic mini leopard is a beautiful and impressive animal, which you will quickly take to your heart thanks to its intelligent and lovable nature.

FAQ about the Bengal Cat