About bengal cats

Bengal cats, a relatively new breed of cat which was first bred in the U.S.A., are the descendants of a cross between an Asian Leopard Cat and a domestic cat, originally Egyptian Maus, Abyssians or Ocicats amongst others. The name "Bengal" comes from the Latin name for Asian Leopard Cat, Felis Bengalensis.

The fourth generation removed from the Asian Leopard Cat can be considered a domestic animal, and is officially a Bengal. As the breeding programme will have been explicitly aimed at producing good pets, the resulting Bengal cats should display the beautiful markings and unusual behaviour of the wild cats, whilst inheriting the domestic cat's social nature and adaptability to human lifestyles.

The goal in developing the domestic Bengal cat breed was to preserve a strong physical resemblance to its beautiful wild ancestor and at the same time the new domestic breed was designed to be a pleasant and trustworthy family companion.
The Bengal cat has, indeed, retained its wild physical resemblance along with the self-assurance and confidence essential to their wild ancestors whilst acquiring an affectionate disposition and an extremely energetic, playful nature. The overall impression is of a miniature leopard with a loving dependable temperament. They are extremely sociable and interact well with other household pets.

The Bengal is a large, sleek and very muscular cat with its hind-quarters slightly higher than its shoulders with a thick tail that is carried low. The Bengal should be alert and affectionate and its wild appearance is enhanced by its distinctive spotted or marbled coat which should be thick and luxurious.

There are several features the Bengal cat has that separates it from other breeds:

Voice. The Bengal's voice has been described as a cooing or chirping or as a strange gravelly sound. They are a very vocal breed and have a wide vocabulary that may on occasion be quite strident especially in unfamiliar situations. This should not be confused with aggression, it is an individual means of expression.

Coat. The Bengal cat is unique in displaying the gold or pearl dusting effect (glitter) of its coat.

Water. Bengal cats love to play with water!

To learn more about the Bengal cat click here http://www.bengalcat.co.uk/