Brief History of the Bengal Cat 

The Bengal Cat is a hybrid cat bred from the Asian Leopard Cat (Felis Bengalensis) and the domestic brown tabby cat.   Between the point of the first hybrid Bengal and the Bengal Cats we enjoy today, a number of other breeds were briefly interjected to enhance certain aspects of the Bengal’s appearance and personality.  If you have an interest on specifics of the development of Bengals, you can find much information at The International Bengal Cat Society (TIBCS)  website.  Jean Mill has some very interesting information in the article “Early Years” which is also in TIBCS Library. 

Filial Foundation and SBT Bengals

A Bengal Cat that has at least 4 generations of Bengal to Bengal breeding is considered an SBT (stud book tradition) registered Bengal.  Filial Bengals are comprised of F1s, F2s and F3s   (1, 2, and 3 generations from the Asian Leopard Cat).  These are sometimes referred to as Foundation Bengals.  The SBT Bengals are usually the better pets having evolved into appropriate toileting habits and much more outgoing personalities.  Filial Bengal males are usually sterile.  Filial Bengals can be very exotic pets.  However, anyone interested in owning a Filial Bengal should do extensive research on their personalities, litter box habits and other traits prior to purchasing one. If you are considering purchasing a Filial Bengal, be sure to check the regulations in your state governing purchase/ownership of these cats.

Behavior and Characteristics

Bengal Cats are very intelligent and active.  If you prefer a “couch potato” or a shy cat who disappears when you have guests, the Bengal is not the right choice for you.  They respond to consistent training much like a good dog, much better than some dogs.  The Bengals in our household have no concept of fear.  This tendency is apparent shortly after birth. They are extremely courageous and curious.  The Bengal assumes that any door or drawer or cabinet or box or anything else that is opened is for their entrance and exploration.  Our Bengals go to the door when the doorbell rings as religiously as if they were the watch dog on duty. 

Historically with some cat registries, there have been concerns about aggressive tendencies in any feline with wild ancestry.  This concern is unfounded in the Bengal.  In the first place the Asian Leopard Cat is a very shy, reclusive primarily nocturnal cat.  Our modern Bengal has none of these personality traits.  The Bengal does have some characteristics in common with it’s wild ALC ancestors.  For instance, the Bengals love water.  They stalk their “prey” (usually the dog or another cat or a toy) like a wild feline.  They will lay on their back grasping a toy between their front paws and mouth.  They hoard their toys, especially from the dogs.  Ours often store their toys in the dogs water bowl; accomplishing two missions.  The dog won’t drink the water and won’t retrieve the toy from the water.  The regular cat toys will not hold up more than a few minutes with some Bengals.  We purchase the plus 6” dog toys for our Bengals.  These will survive a few washings in the dog water bowl or the washing machine, and are much more difficult to destroy on first contact. 

Bengals are easily socialized to other Bengals, cats, dogs, horses, llamas, and kids of all ages.  See www.pleasantpondbengals.com/Bengal Cat Gallery.  Our grandchildren who are quite young interact with our Bengals daily.  Our dogs interact with our Bengals with ease, as you can also see in the Gallery photos.  Our llamas do not come in the house, but have been seen nose to nose with a Bengal in an outside enclosure.  We highly recommend a scratching/climbing tree for your Bengal.  Bengals love high places, and will find the highest place in your house shortly after their arrival.  Providing them with a tall tree will be better for them and for you (especially if you are a person who does not like your Bengal peering down at you from the top of your refrigerator, tallest bookcase, etc.)  That is not to say that when they have a climbing/scratching tree, they will never visit the other high places in your house, but the tree will gradually become their more favorite hangout.  We recommend a tall tree for your Bengal.  While the kitten is young, the tree should be laid on it’s side to prevent injury from falling.  Young Bengals get their “climbing up” skills much younger than their “climbing down” skills.  

Bengals in the Family 

Bengal Cats are fun.  Even in their more serious moments of “stalking the dog at the water bowl”, they display a gregariousness not seen in other cats.  If your choice is to own or be owned by one Bengal, you will have a constant companion when you are home.  They display companionship characteristics generally associated with the loyalty of a dog.  For owners who work or are away from the home several hours each day, they may wish to own two or more Bengals.      

Appearance 

Bengals are also visually stunning.  We often take one of our older neutered males with us when we visit our summer home.  Part of our trip includes crossing on the ferry.  BeeGee usually likes to position himself somewhere near the front window of the car while we are parked on the ferry.  Repeatedly, we have had people ask, “What is that?”  Even to the most novice eye, his size, outgoing personality, huge whisker pads, whited chin, glitter and rufism announce that he is not your typical house cat.  For pictures and information on Bengal colors and patterns, visit Bengal Cat Colors    

Bengal Cats vary in size between the genders.  Males range in mature adult size from 11 to 16 pounds, whereas the smaller females range from 7 to 12 pounds at maturity.  The Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) is very small, so the larger Bengals occur as the hybrid generations move past 2 or 3 generations away from the ALC.     

Neutering and Spaying 

Your pet Bengal should be neutered prior to reaching sexual maturity, otherwise they will mark their territory.  Both the males and the females will spray or mark if they are not neutered.  We do not recommend early neutering at 10 weeks, but definitely recommend neutering by 5 to 6 months.  We find 5 months is the optimum age.  Some vets will say 6 months, however, we have known of a few males who matured by 6 months.  A 5-month old Bengal kitten of either gender will be a healthy, robust cat who will barely notice his or her visit to the vet for neutering. 

Bengals, even little ones can open almost any door once they put their mind to it.  So be sure to store toxic and poisonous cleaning supplies in a secure location.  Electric cords are also very interesting to young kittens.