Bengal: The Cat That Looks Like a Little Leopard

Elegant, with a spotted body and a shiny, silky coat. A wonderful playmate for children.

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Bengal 1 scaled
Il BengalThe Bengal, also known as the Bengal, is a cat that looks just like a small leopard. Its spotted coat, typical of a leopard, is short, compact, thick, and silky; its eyes are large, oval, and can be green, gold, blue, or aquamarine; its legs are strong and muscular; its tail is long and tapered at the tips, and carried low, like that of wild cats. The Bengal quickly becomes attached to its family and is considered an extraordinary playmate for children.

Origins

Its ancestor is the Bengal wildcat (or Asian leopard cat), a small, predominantly nocturnal feline with a slender body and long legs, found in Southeast Asia. The domestic Bengal is very similar to its ancestor, now a protected species, but larger.

Over time, thanks to the selection process, the spots have changed and today they more closely resemble those of cheetahs, jaguars, and leopards. The breed was first selected in the United States in 1963, but official recognition dates back to 1991.

Features

The Bengal cat is muscular, slender, and elegant, with a small, elongated head. Here are some other distinguishing physical characteristics:

  • medium-large sized, muscular and powerful body
  • large, oval-shaped eyes of green, gold, aquamarine, blue, or brown color
  • medium-small ears
  • weight between 3-6 kilos for females, 6-9 kilos for males
  • Short, compact, thick coat. Accepted colors: black, brown, cinnamon, or chocolate with very obvious markings. There are several varieties: it can be spotted, dotted, or marbled.

Bengal 2

Colors

The Bengal's base coat colors range from light ochre to dark red, and the spots can range from dark brown to black. White specimens have an ivory-cream base color, with light brown or chocolate brown spots. The spots are large, arranged in rings or rosettes, and fairly randomly distributed.

Character and temperament

The Bengal cat, while very affectionate and attentive to its beloved owners, creates problems when it feels neglected. It may demonstrate this by biting and scratching everything it can get its hands on, especially when it's bored or, conversely, very excited. Excessive meowing can also indicate boredom; it's its way of letting you know.

He's quite mischievous, so it's best to avoid forbidding him from doing something, as he might act contrary just to get your attention. His hunting instinct is particularly strong. He loves water, which is uncommon among cats. In fact, it's not uncommon to see him playing with it or even swimming.

He suffers from loneliness

The Bengal cat requires a lot of attention and shouldn't be left alone at home for too long. It suffers greatly from loneliness and constantly seeks human contact. On the other hand, it's a real playful cat and you might find it hiding in a bag, closet, or drawer.

Cure

Pay attention to this breed's digestive system, which is somewhat delicate. To care for it, simply feed it a quality, light food. In addition to ready-made food, ground quail, turkey, chicken, and rabbit meat are also excellent. As for the coat, it doesn't require any special care except during shedding season, when it should be brushed regularly.

Bengal 3

Illnesses

The Bengal cat generally enjoys good health but can suffer from some pathologies, the main ones being:

  • kidney problems
  • feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Although it is a strong and robust cat, the Bengal has a rather delicate digestive system and therefore must eat light, quality foods that are not too rich in fat.

How long does he live?

The Bengal cat is quite long-lived, usually lives between 14 and 16 years old, so average for cats.

Adoption

To adopt a Bengal cat, you need to know that it requires a lot of care and attention. One way to adopt a Bengal is through the Facebook page "Bengal kitten for adoption".

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