Please Help Homeless Pets with a Donation of One Dollar
Picture Bengal Cat
The Bengal Breed of Cat, the Large & Beautiful "Wild
Cat"
Brought to you by: Alfred and Pretty Baby Kitty
The Bengal is a hybridized cat breed that was developed by
crossing the Asian Leopard Cat with the domestic feline. The
large and beautiful Bengal cat has "wild-looking" markings
like rosettes and larges spots coupled with a white or light
colored belly. They are also said to have "mascara" around
their eyes and dark lines that fan out from their eyes.
The rosettes and spotting that is displayed on the Bengal
cat is a typical pattern for this breed. Stripes can be seen
on the parts of the cat other than the back and sides that
show rosette spots and the light belly.
The body structure of these cats is similar to that of the
Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis).
The Bengal cat is a popular cat breed because it looks like
a wild cat but at least three generations of interbreeding
with the domestic cat has gentled the temperament so that it
may be considered a house pet.
The Bengal name is from the taxonomic name for the Asian
Leopard Cat and isn't in any way related to the Bengal
tiger.
(learn about Bengal Tigers on our
Stuffed Bengal Tiger
page)
The first mention in print of the domestic/ALC cross was in
1889 in "Our Cats and All About Them" by when Harrison Weir,
but the ALC/domestic cross wasn't actually confirmed until a
Belgian scientific journal in 1934. In a Japanese cat
publication in 1941 an article about keeping such a cross as
a pet was printed. Jean Mill submitted a term paper in her
UC Davis genetics class on the subject of cross breeding
cats in 1946, and she was later considered to be the
greatest influence in developing the modern Bengal cat
breed.
By the 1960's the ALC/domestic crosses were well known and
breeders like Jean Sugden produced them. However, according
to records, no breeder took them past the F2 stage. In
Europe, several zoos produced F1 ALC crosses. After that
proponents of the cross started serious breeding.
After three generations from the original cross the cats
usually have a gentle temperament similar to a domestic cat.
But it is a good idea for a pet owner to get a Bengal when
it is fourth generation rather than third from the original
cross, better insuring the gentle temperament. The original
cross, second and third generation Bengals are usually kept
for breeding purposes rather than as house pets.
Bengals have Unique Nutritional Requirements
By: Jane Bicks, D.V.M.
This weird looking cat, the Bengal, has a lot of nutritional needs
and is in definite need of a high quality alternative food for sure.
The plush fur really looks its best when
brewer's yeast or torula yeast is added to the diet.
These cats can put on weight, so make sure that you
exercise them, and don't give them the snacks they
so often desire.
If I had a Bengal Cat this is the Premium Food I would Choose
Find out More Here
Hairball Management for Bengal Cats
