Bengal cat – the mini leopard on the sofa😘🐈
- The character of the Bengal Cat
- Wanted Bengal cat
- The posture of the Bengal cat
- Care of the Bengal cat
- Bengal cat: diet
- Bengal Cat: Diseases typical of the breed
- Bengal cat: Appearance
- History of the Bengal Cat
- Peculiarities of the Bengal cat
- Breed portrait: Bengal cat Images 😻
The character of the Bengal Cat
Although their predatory exterior might lead you to believe they're dealing with a snarling tomboy, Bengals are particularly affectionate. The Bengal cat has a lot to "tell" you because it is highly communicative and chats extensively with coos and meows. She also appreciates physical contact: she wants to cuddle all the time and accompanies her people everywhere.
CharacteristicsBengal cat😺
The posture of the Bengal cat
As the owner of a Bengal cat, you are challenged: your housemate always needs stimulation and action in the form of hunting games, skill exercises,s and learning little tricks. Clicker training is usually a lot of fun for the docile Bengal cat. Doing nothing and lying around lazily is not for them. When it gets bored, the Bengal cat looks for something to do and doesn't hesitate to open cupboards, clear out shelves, and "re-decorate" its surroundings. You need varied and mentally demanding work to keep you active and fit. A wide range of different toys should be available.
Bengal cats are inquisitive buffs. A house with a large, secure garden is ideal for the Bengal cat. A secure balcony or an outdoor enclosure are also great options to enable the active cat to exercise. It is sometimes reported that Bengal cats are easy to get used to on a harness and leash and that you can allow them safe walks in the garden - however, this depends heavily on the character of the individual cat and the empathy of the owner: inside.
The Bengal can also be kept indoors as long as it is big enough and varied. A small city apartment is not suitable for these active cats. In any case, they need generous scratching and climbing opportunities. Bengal cats have a great jumping ability, which they also want to exercise.
Bengal cats should not be kept alone, but at least in pairs, preferably with another Bengal cat. Living with cats of other breeds can also work. But only if this breed is as active and confident as the Bengal. Calm breeds such as British Shorthair are not suitable for this. Dogs, as long as they are cat-friendly, are usually no problem for Bengal cats, nor are children. When keeping this cat breed, you should be prepared for the fact that they are active, sometimes meow a lot, and just need a lot of activity.
Care of the Bengal cat😻
You don't have to spend a lot of time grooming your pet. The Bengal cat is very clean and keeps its own fur in order. However, she enjoys being brushed, which is why you should treat the cat to this wellness once a week. In this way, you also reduce the formation of hairballs, which is of course especially true during the change of coat.
Watch out for ectoparasites like ticks, mites, and fleas while grooming. However, one of the most annoying but not life-threatening pests that nests in the digestive tract of the Leopardette are an endoparasite: the "Tritrichomonas fetus". It is transmitted through the feces of an infected conspecific and causes long-lasting diarrhea (tri trichomonosis). The cat usually shows no other symptoms. If diarrhea lasts longer than a few days, it is advisable to contact a veterinarian, as prolonged diarrhea can be life-threatening. The diarrhea is treated with antibiotics.
Bengal cat: diet
The breed is generally not fussy when it comes to food. If you decide to BARF your Bengal partially or completely, you should get good advice. Otherwise, malnutrition or an oversupply of certain nutrients can occur. Have a nutrition plan put together by a veterinarian, including Doctors who offer online nutritional advice. Bengal cats, like other domestic cats, usually do well with high-quality, protein-rich ready-to-eat cat food.
Bengal Cat: Diseases typical of the breed😿
Even if the breed is still young, there are quite a few diseases typical of the breed in Bengal cats. The animals can go blind as a result of what is known as progressive retinal atrophy (degeneration of the retina of the eye). In addition, Bengal cats often suffer from pyruvactinase deficiency: Here the red blood cells are destroyed due to an enzyme deficiency and anemia occurs. The breed is also prone to the heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM for short, in which the heart muscle thickens. A regular heart ultrasound ensures a quick diagnosis. Reputable breeders have the parent animals regularly checked for these common hereditary diseases in order to only get healthy offspring.
Bengal cat: Appearance
Bengal cats are slim and muscular and grow relatively large: tomcats can weigh up to six kilograms and reach a shoulder height of up to 40 centimeters. The most striking thing about the Bengal cat is its spectacularly patterned fur: it can be spotted or marbled; a tiger pattern is considered undesirable as a breeding trait. This also explains the outdated name Leopardette. The breed-specific permitted colors of Bengal cats range from brown, snow and silver.
History of the Bengal Cat🐱
The Bengal cat is a young cat breed from the USA. It is rare and therefore expensive. The Bengal cat has only been recognized as a separate breed by the breeders' umbrella organization FIFe since 1999 but has been bred in the USA since the 1960s. Back then, geneticist Jean Mill was trying to save the endangered Asian leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis), a true wild cat. She crossed the wild cats with short-haired domestic cats and laid the foundation for Bengal cat breeding with these hybrids. The emergence of the breed, i.e. forced mating, is viewed by animal rights activists today as torture.
From the first to the fourth generation (F1 to F4), crosses of domestic cats with leopard cats are considered hybrids, legally regarded as wild animals that must be reported and subject to certain husbandry conditions. From generation F5, the offspring are no longer legally considered hybrids in Germany but are recognized domestic cat breeds. Depending on the branch generation (F), the offspring carry a different number of genes of the wild cat species - the later the breeding generation, the fewer there are.
The pedigree cats are only bred homozygous by reputable breeders today, wild or domestic cats are no longer crossed.
The Bengal is one of the most expensive cats in the world. The price varies depending on the coat pattern and how closely the cat's appearance conforms to the breed standard. The price for a Bengal is around 1,000 to 5,000 euros. Since the demand is high because the cat is considered chic, there are also many dubious breeders. If you really want to get a Bengal, you should find out more about the breeder.
Peculiarities of the Bengal cat
Bengal cats have a curious trait: they love water. So treat your room leopard to a paddling pool. Her fascination with water, inherited from her wild progenitors, goes so far that even bathtubs and aquariums are not safe from her. Secure these water sources so your cat is not in danger of drowning in them.
Breed portrait: Bengal cat Images🐈
Breed portrait: Bengal cat
She looks like a mini leopard - but inside she is a particularly lovable velvet paw. The Bengal cat not only impresses with its beautiful and unique predatory fur, but also with a solid domestic cat character. In this image we show you how it all fits together perfectly!
If you like the look of the Bengal cat, you might also like these breeds:
- Ocicat: Wild cats inspire cat lovers with their grace and originality. The distinctive ocicat brings both into the living room: With its characteristic coat pattern, it looks very similar to the South American ocelot.
- Savannah cat: Absolutely exotic: The Savannah cat is a cross between the serval (Leptailurus serval) and a domestic cat (preferred breeds Egyptian Mau, Ocicat or Oriental Shorthair).
- Serval: Servals are African wild cats – smaller than lions or cheetahs, but far from tame. Nevertheless, a few private individuals keep servals as pets. This often serves to breed so-called Savannah cats by crossing them with Siamese cats.
- Toyger: You really can't get more house cats: The Toyger is a breed that should look as similar as possible to its imposing role model from the jungle. Its distinctive striped pattern immediately catches the eye.









