HISTORY OF THE BENGAL CAT

The sleek beauty of wild cats is captivating, and by its very nature, elusive. The Bengal breed originated through determined and dedicated cat breeders as a way to create and preserve the wild beauty of the wild jungle feline in a domestic cat. The current Bengal cat is a beautiful example of years of attention to breeding. With its beautiful markings, unique coat, love of water, intelligence, and long, muscled body type, the Bengal cat is truly breathtaking as it calls to mind those majestic wild felines. 

The Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), Felis bengalensis, is a small wild cat found in the jungles and forests of India, Asia, and China. Adults weigh between 8 and 16 pounds. Their coats vary depending upon location and climate and are sought out by fur trappers. Genetically, the ALC is compatible with the domestic cat. Crossings with the domestic cat have occurred throughout history. Jean Sugden made the first recorded outcross in the US in the 1960’s but personal circumstances forced her to discontinue her program at that time. Other breeders attempted matings around this time but there is no record of kittens from these breedings.

 In the late 1970’s, a researcher, Dr. Willard Centerwall, at the University of California, became interested in the natural resistance of the Asian Leopard Cat has to feline leukemia. Jean Sugden (now Jean Mill) received Dr. Centerwall’s female kittens from the successful ALC crosses with domestic cats. Jean Mill started registering the cats descended from ALC’s with The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Bengal breed was on its way.

 Being owned by a Bengal cat is a wonderful experience. Not only are these cats incredibly beautiful, they are intelligent, curious, and entertaining. Generally very social, they get along with all members of a household, even other animals. A Bengal may even enjoy bathing or showering with their owners. These cats may be trained to walk on a leash. The domestic Bengal cats (four generations or more removed from the Asian Leopard Cat) have the same health requirements as domestic cats as far as immunizations and use a litter box. This breed is recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA), the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA), the American Association of Cat Enthusiasts (AACE), the Federation Internationale Feline (FIFe), the Canadian Cat Association (CCA), the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), Australian Cat Federation (ACF), and other cat fancy registries.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BENGAL CAT

APPEARANCE*

 The first registry to recognize the Bengal, The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes several colors (brown, seal lynx point, mink, sepia, silver) and patterns (spotted and marbled) for Championship competition. Bengals are relatively large-boned, shorthaired cats with males averaging from 10 to 15 pounds and females usually smaller. The face should have a distinctly non-domestic expression, with small, rounded ears and intense facial markings. Careful selection ensures Bengal cats that are friendly, loving domestic cats that bear a strong physical resemblance to their Asian Leopard Cat ancestors.

           Brown Spotted Tabby Bengals

The brown spotted tabby (BST) Bengals have dark spots on a lighter ground color ranging from gray or tawny to sorrel to golden, very rufused (bright orange) and to a rich mahogony. Note: The Asian Leopard Cat is considered a brown spotted tabby in the cat fancy and ranges somewhat in color. Brown includes variations of tawny, sorrel, golden, hot rufus and mahogany

Marbled Bengals

The classic tabby gene creates the marbled Bengal and represents a change of pattern from spotted to swirled or marbleized. This dramatic pattern is comprised of swirls of brown spotted colors flowing in a horizontal fashion instead of traditional spots. Preference is given to the more horizontal, flowing and "ocelot-like" patterns. The marbled pattern develops as the kitten grows; it can be amazing to see the swirling patterns appear.  Some think the marbled Bengal pattern has a resemblance to the Clouded Leopard coat pattern.

Seal Lynx Point, Sepia and Mink Spotted Tabby Bengals

The seal lynx point (blue-eyed) and seal sepia (gold or green-eyed) spotted tabbies (fondly referred to by breeders as two of the "snow" leopard spotteds) have ivory backgrounds with contrasting spots. The seal mink (aqua or green-eyed) spotted is a combination of one each of the above pointed Siamese and the Burmese sepia genes. Extreme contrast between the markings and the ground color is desirable in each spotted color.

          Spotted Seal Lynx Point Bengals

Spots of all colors and patterns vary in color, size, rosetting and intensity but preference is given to random and horizontal pattern alignment with wide spacing or "acreage".

 "Glitter," the high shine (that has been discovered and developed in the Bengal is a welcome addition to the breed. "Rosettes," the dark outlining of coat markings (both in the spotted and marbled) that are around a third rich color, are found in many wild cat species. Rosettes showing two distinct colors or shades, such as paw print shaped, arrowhead shaped, doughnut or half-doughnut shaped or clustered are preferred to single spotting but not required.

 Some Bengal kittens go through what is referred to as the "fuzzy uglies". A beautifully clear kitten at three weeks old may begin to acquire a ticked kitten coat at four to five weeks old. This coat begins to clear again to higher contrast at about 12 weeks and is again breathtaking by 6 months.

           *from The International Bengal Cat Society

TEMPERMENT

Bengals are energetic, intelligent, curious, obnoxious, stubborn, friendly, busybody cats.  Curious and entertaining, some even enjoy playing in water and bathing with their owners. They will get into anything and everything! They will  play in the sink or the toilet, steal pens/pencils/silverware, sit on door tops, follow their owners around like a puppy, unfold the laundry, get into the trash, and find the most curvy, ground-level and above ground-level race course the house can provide. They usually get along well with other pets when introduced properly.

The Bengal cat makes a loving, intelligent housecat. Some owners regularly walk their Bengals on leashes. The domestic Bengal (four generations or more from the Asian Leopard Cat) has normal litter box habits although it is fastidious and will not tolerate a dirty litter box.