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Bengal
Cat
The Bengal cat is a domestic cat
breed with 'wild' characteristics and coloration, but a domestic
temperament.
They are medium sized cats - a male may weigh as much as 20 lb
(9 kg), and a female commonly weighs 8 to 12 lb (4 to 6 kg). The closer the
cat is to their Asian Leopard ancestors, the larger it is likely to be.
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Bengal
Cat |
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Bengal cats are actually a hybrid between
Asian Leopard
Cats and domestic felines - mainly Egyptian
Maus, American
Shorthair, Abyssinian,
Ocicat, and
domestic
shorthaired cats, as well as later generation Bengal males.
Developed by Jean
Mill of California in the 1970's, Bengal cats are labelled with an 'F'
number to indicate how many generations they are removed from their wild
ancestors.
Kittens from an Asian Leopard Cat (crossed with a Bengal cat or
domestic cat) would be called F1 Bengal cats, their offspring would then be
called F2 Bengals and so on.
Bengal cats from F1 to F3 are not allowed to be
shown, due to their still semi-wild nature, although many F3 Bengal cats are
very friendly.
Asian Leopard cats or F1 and F2 Bengal cats
may not be easily house-trained and need knowledgeable owners.
They are
often difficult to breed (F1 and F2 males are always infertile and F3 males
are almost always infertile), with smaller litters.
Consequently, when they
are occasionally sold, they are much more expensive than later generation
Bengal cats. A special breeders license is needed to care for F1 bengal cats
or for their Asian leopard cat parents.
Bengal cats are either spotted or have
marbled patterns on their coats.
The following colors and patterns are
recognized: 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 only.
Silver
Spotted, Silver Marbled and Melanistic (black) are additional colors and
patterns not yet recognized by all breeding associations that accept the
Bengal cat.
Bengal cats can take a great deal of
interest in running water and often don't mind getting wet.
Most Bengal
owners have stories about their cat's affection for running water or even
jumping in a sink or tub.
Additionally, Bengal cats are very intelligent and
curious, and so are particularly interactive with their human housemates,
wanting to be in the middle of whatever the human is engaged in, and often
following the human around the house as household chores are
performed.
Bengal cats tend to vocalize to communicate
with their humans, and are quite capable of jealousy and spitefulness if
they feel that another feline is getting more attention.
The other side of
this coin is that they are also extremely affectionate towards and playful
with their humans.
Excellent hearing and highly developed instincts make
Bengal cats excellent "watch dogs." Manx
is yet another cat breed that share many of these similar traits with the
Bengal cat.
In February 1998, a F2 Bengal cat named
Cato made the Guinness world records by being the most expensive cat
purchased.
It was bought for US$41,435.00 by Cindy Jackson of London,
England.
The Bengal cat was sold by breeder Lord C. Esmond Gay of
Bedfordshire, England. Note however, that as of 2005, this Bengal cat is no
longer the world record holder.
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