BENGAL CATS: TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

According to Cat Fancy's Erika Sorocco, bringing "this unique creature" into your home "seems to change even the most sterile environment into an exotic paradise." Recognized by the International Cat Association (TICA) in 1983, the Bengal is one of the first domestic cats deliberately created through crossing a wild cat with a domestic cat. The goal was to develop an animal who acted tame, but looked like its wild cat ancestors (Erika Sorocco, Cat Fancy: January 2009).

Sorocco states that while the Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, and Bengal all have physical characteristics resembling the bigger cats, only the Bengal was actually created through the act of breeding with one. According to Dr. Bruce Fogle (CATalog), when Jean Sugden bred an Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat, in California in 1963, her concern was with the conservation of the leopard cat. Dr. Willard Centerwall continued this hybridization ten years later, at the University of California, as a way of studying the Asian leopard cat's resistance to feline leukemia virus; however, the Bengal breed of cat resulted from these unions. Dr. Centerwall sent eight of his hybrids to Sugden (Mill), and the first Bengal was registered by Jean (Sugden) Mill in 1983.

PERSONALITY

Originally, Bengal cats were a nervous feline group; however, continued development has led to a more outgoing breed, according to Fogle. Borocco reports that the Asian Leopard cat, known for its shyness, was used in creating the Bengal, leading to the shy personality; but that Bengals are very social and outgoing cats today. She describes them as being somewhat "dog-like." Borocco writes that Bengals often enjoy water, and have been known to play in the shower, bathtub, or in the swimming pool.

APPEARANCE

Bengals are very muscular with thick necks. The Bengal head is slightly longer than it is wide, his cheekbones are high, and his muzzle is full and broad. Its chin is strong, and its canine teeth are widely set, helping to produce pronounced whisker pads. broken streaks of color cover the head, and its puffed nose is pink outlined in black. Rather than a break from forehead to nose, there is only a gentle curve.

The distinctive characteristic of the Bengal cat is its coat, which is brown marbled, a pattern resembling that of a wild cat, rather than the typical blotched or classic pattern of the domestic tabby. The coat markings should be distinct, not symmetrical, and the markings should be very clear. Cats should show three shades of color: The base, the dark markings, and the darker outlines. This quality is unique to the Bengal standard. Her coat is dense and soft to the touch with short or medium length fur.

Her legs are strong and muscular, and her paws are large and rounded. Her tail is thick and even, with hind-legs that are longer than forelegs. The body is large, very muscular and sleek. Her ears are short, with a wide base, rounded tips, and no tufts. Her large and oval eyes can be blue or green, and they will have a slight slant. Her chest is broad. Males are typically larger than females, with the Bengal weight range being from 12 to 22 pounds (5.5-10 kg).

These are fully domesticated cats with a wild appearance, so why not take a walk on the wild side today, and bring one home. He or she just might change your dull home to an exotic paradise.