Bengal Cat Information and Guide

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Joanna De Klerk : Published: 24 February 2019

Introduction

Brown spotted Bengal cat

The Bengal cat breed is striking and athletic, so it is understandable why they are prized within the cat world. Whether you are new to the breed or a seasoned Bengal owner, this website will guide you through your journey, from learning about the origins of the breed, learning about variations within the breed, choosing your new kitten or cat, and finally learning how to look after him. There is something for everyone in our guides.

Average Size

Bengals are a medium to large breed of cat, with an athletic, yet slender physique. They have a long body, and because of their muscular appearance, they may seem larger than they actually are. An average male can weigh between 4.5kg and 6.8kg and an average female can weigh between 3.6kg and 5.4kg.

Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of a Bengal is 12 to 16 years. This is average in comparison to other domestic breeds of cat. There are some specific diseases which Bengals typically are at higher risk of developing, however, generally, they are healthy cats.

Who Buys a Bengal?

Bengals are suitable for both owners who wish to add them to a normal family life, as well as Bengal enthusiasts and professionals, who may wish to show or breed with their cat. They are versatile in nature and will adapt to most styles of living situations in which they are placed. Therefore, regardless of where you live, and whether you wish to keep your Bengal inside or outside, a Bengal will fit in perfectly.


Breed Origin

The breed originated in the USA in the 1970s and as it became more popular, people in the UK began to introduce them to the country. As a result, over the past two decades, it has now become a popular cat in the UK. In 1997, the Bengal became recognised by the GCCF, however it was still a further seven years before it obtained Championship status in 2005.

Original Gene Pool

The Bengal originated from the wild Asian Leopard Cat. These were crossed with tabby cats to create the F1 (first) generation. These hybrids were then further crossed with other oriental cats, such as the Abyssinian, Egyptian Mau and Burmese. The F1 generation, F2 generation and F3 generation are the baseline generations for the gene pool.

Breed Founder

Jean S Mill wanted to breed a cat with the characteristics of a domestic cat, but the stature and spots of a wild cat, so in 1963 she crossed a black shorthaired domestic cat with a female Asian Leopard Cat. It was at a time when leopard fur was popular, but she hoped that if the general public could own a leopard-like cat, the chances of them purchasing an Asian Leopard Cat as a pet, or as fur, were less likely. Therefore, the development of the Bengal lead to conservation of the Asian Leopard Cat.


Breed Looks

Bengals are inarguably one of the most striking domesticated cats on this planet. The objective when the breed was developed was to produce a mini-leopard, so if you want a cat which turns an eye, a Bengal is for you.

Description

The Bengal cat is medium to large in body size, with a lean and muscular physique. They carry their large tail low. They have a broad head with rounded small ears. The cheekbones are high which makes the face appear beautifully distinguished. The whisker pads are prominent and the eyes are the shape of almonds, with a black rim. The paws are large and round.

The appearance of the Bengal is like its wild counterpart, and as they explore, they remain alert and energetic. The coat is short and dense, and when in the sunshine, it can have a glittering appearance. There are three colours; brown, silver and snow, and two types of patterns; spotted and marbled.


Personality

Bengals are known for their extremely friendly personality. They love their humans and are loyal to them throughout their whole lives. It is for this reason that they are often likened to the personality of dogs, rather than reclusive cats.

Also, unlike most cats, they have an affinity to water and love to paddle or swipe at running water. As a result, they may become a nuisance when you are running the tap, in the shower or flushing the toilet. They thoroughly enjoy cat drinking fountains, and this is an excellent way to encourage plenty of water intake.

Indoors or Outdoors

Despite being extremely loyal to their owners, they also have strong hunting instincts. Therefore, they will happily leave their owners for a few hours each day to prowl outside. This is a great way to burn off their energy, as they are a high energy breed.

Some owners decide to keep their Bengals indoors, which they will adapt to well, providing they are provided with plenty of toys and entertainment. This is a decision that some cat owners take either because they live in a residential area near busy roads, or because Bengals are pedigree breeds and are at a higher risk of theft.

Noisiness

Bengals are extremely chatty cats, far more than a normal domestic cat, and will talk to you all day long. Not only do they make many different ‘meow’ noises, but they also commonly make grunts, cooing and yowling noises.


Interaction

Bengals are amongst the most interactive cats you can acquire, which makes them excellent pets for families with someone who stays at home during the day, or that have other pets. They are extremely intelligent and love playing with their owners.

Intelligence

Bengals are one of the few breeds which you can teach tricks to. They love simple games such as ‘fetch’ or playing with interactive toys. Another favourite pastime is to sit up high and survey their household, and therefore they will enjoy a cat climbing frame.

Playfulness

Bengals can easily get bored and therefore keeping a constant supply of toys around the house is vital, if there is not someone at home to entertain them. Because of their intelligent and curious nature, most cat toys are too easy for Bengals, and therefore the more complex the better. As they also love to play with water, a small paddling pool with floating objects in will keep them entertained for hours on a warm day.

Litter Tray Training

Litter trays are essential if your cat lives indoors. Bengals are extremely clever and will learn how to use a litter tray from their mothers at a very young age. Therefore, you will not need to actively train your cat to use a litter tray. Place a few litter trays around the house, and ensure that it is not next to the food and water for hygiene and privacy reasons.


Friendliness

Bengals are extremely social, unlike most cats which are solitary in nature. They thrive in a busy, family environment.

Children

It is always exciting for a child to get a cat, and a Bengal is an excellent choice. Not only will your child be entertained by this extremely social cat, but your Bengal will also burn off plenty of energy by playing with your child. It is important, however, to remember that children should always be supervised around animals so that accidents do not happen.

Other Animals

Bengals love cat-friendly dogs, and will become best friends with them. They also get on extremely well with other cats, as long as they have been introduced to the house at the same time, for example if they are siblings. Smaller animals are more at risk though, as Bengals have strong hunting instincts, and may feel that hamsters, mice and gerbils are fair game.


Breed-Predisposed Ailments

Bengals are generally very healthy cats, however, like with all pedigree breeds, there are some conditions that they are more at risk of developing. This is due to inbreeding and consequently, narrowing of the gene pool.

Patella Luxation

The patella, also known as the knee cap, sits in a groove in the stifle, also known as the knee joint. When the groove is too shallow, it can slip out. This is usually to the inside of the leg, rather than the outside because the tendon is stronger in that direction. You are most likely to notice an intermittent lameness with patella luxation.

Hip Dysplasia

The hip joint is made up of a ball and socket, the ball being the head of the femur, and the socket being the cup in the pelvis. In a normal hip joint, both are perfectly round and fit snuggly together. Hip dysplasia is where the head of the femur is an odd shape and does not fit in the socket perfectly. In extreme cases, the head of the femur can slip in and out, causing lameness and an abnormal swinging gait.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The heart is made up of muscle fibres which contract forcefully to push blood out and around the body. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is when the muscle of the heart becomes enlarged and incapable of effectively pumping the blood. As a result, this leads to fainting, breathlessness, coughing and sometimes fluid build-up in the lungs.

Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

Pyruvate kinase is an enzyme found in red blood cells. If there is not enough, the red blood cells begin breaking down, which leads to anaemia, an enlarged spleen and jaundice.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

At the back of the eye is a structure called the retina. It converts light to a nerve signal, which travels to the brain. Progressive retinal atrophy is when the retina begins to break down, leading to progressive blindness. Night blindness is the first to come, followed by complete blindness.


Grooming

Keeping up with your Bengal’s striking looks is important. Grooming should become part of a daily routine for you and your Bengal, which he will enjoy due to his social nature.

Brushing

Brushing the coat not only removes loose hair and keeps it looking shiny and healthy, but it will also reduce the development of hairballs, as your cat will ingest less loose hair. Since the coat of a Bengal is short, grooming is low maintenance and just requires a quick brush over with a grooming mitt. Nails should also be monitored to ensure they do not get too long.

Ears

The ears may require occasional cleaning; however, they are usually self-maintaining. Cats can become prone to ear mites inside the ear, and harvest mites on the pinna (outside) of the ear. Therefore, if your cat is scratching his ears or shaking his head, you should take him to see a vet.


Nutrition

Nutrition can seem daunting, when you are faced with shelves full of cat food in the pet store. Your Bengal deserves the highest quality food, and there are some ways you can ensure this. Firstly, read the ingredients. The top ingredient should be a meat-based protein. If it is a starch, then this is less nutritional. Secondly, do your research. Online reviews will give you an idea about whether other people’s cats have thrived on it. Finally, ask your pet store assistant, vet nurse or vet. They will have all had training on how to choose a nutritional food.

Dry or Wet Food

You might find your Bengal has a specific preference for either wet or dry food, but there are pros and cons to both. Therefore, most owners decide to feed a mixture. Dry food is excellent for reducing tartar on teeth, which can lead to decay, gum inflammation and tooth loss. Whereas wet food is more palatable, as well as it encourages water intake which improves urinary health.

Water

Water intake is important in cats because, as a species, they are prone to urinary issues including cystitis and kidney disease. More water means more filtration of the kidneys and more dilute urine for the bladder. Water intake in Bengals is not difficult to encourage though. Since Bengals love water, you will find that they will consume plenty whilst they play with it.

Weight Monitoring

Bengals naturally have a lean physique, however if you overfeed your cat, he will put on too much weight. This can exacerbate joint issues, such as hip dysplasia, as well as lead to diseases such as diabetes. The best way to monitor your cat’s weight is with the help of your veterinarian. They will be able to advise on a suitable target weight and how to get there. Body Condition Scoring is another excellent method of monitoring weight. This is a scale of one (emaciated) to nine (obese), with four to five being the ideal weight.


Finances

Bengals are expensive cats and therefore finances have to be considered before purchasing one. Every cat deserves to live in a home which can afford the level of care which they need.

Initial Cost

A Bengal kitten price could be between £400 to £1500 depending on the genetics of the parents. Buying a well-bred kitten, from parents which are known to be free from genetic diseases, might seem expensive, but will be rewarding in the future.

Cost of Food

Food costs are likely to cost approximately £15 to £25 per month for a quality food, depending on the size of your Bengal and the brand of food. Bengals can be large, and therefore they will need more food than most domestic cats. It is important to remember that treats and hunted mice and birds also contribute to the daily calories.

Cost of Preventative Veterinary Medicine

Your cat will not only have veterinary bills if they are sick, but also have veterinary bills for preventative health care. This includes yearly vaccinations, deworming treatments every 3 months and monthly de-flea treatment. This will cost between £100 to £150 per year. There are also the one-off costs of microchipping at between £15 to £30 and neutering, which is likely to cost between £50 to £150.

Cost of Insurance

Veterinary insurance is vital to set up, as veterinary bills can cost thousands of pounds. By having veterinary insurance, you will only have to pay a small excess per condition claimed for. It is likely to cost between £15 to £30 per month to insure your Bengal, depending on the age of your cat and the level of cover you desire.


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