So what the heck is a Bengal cat anyway?

And what good are they?

Just as a point of reference, the Bengal cat is the oldest and most firmly established wild cat/domestic hybrid,  there are:

The Bengal cat: Crossed with the Asian Leopard cat.

The Savannah:  Crossed with the African Serval.

                                                    The Safari: Crossed with the South American Geoffroy’s cat.

The Bengal has been superseded in some ways by the larger and more expensive Savannah but the Savannah does not have depth or diversity of the Bengal’s pelt. Breeding all three of these cats is a challenge especially because most hybrids are infertile (like mules), but breeding the Safari is especially complicated, convoluted and confusing. The first three generations of the Geoffroy’s cat/domestic cat hybrid are… freaky Super-Pets-From-The-Twenty-First-Century. After three generations, they revert to normal, smallish, exotic-looking, cats but for those “F1,F2,F3″ generations they are huge in stature and comically affectionate. Hugging, kissing, and sucking on their masters, these giant (25lbs!) cats cost over $5000 so don’t go rushing to the pet store.

The Bengal still has the looks though. I could write a whole page - more - about just the different variations of colorings and markings there are. If you want “stunning”, “trippy” or ”living work of art” a Bengal won’t let you down.

Which brings us to our subtitle: “And what good are they?”

First of all, I do not believe there should be a super-class of animal called, “pets”. All animals should be treated humanely and pets are not inherently better in some way just by virtue of being pets. That said, pets are good for many things: stress reduction, allergy prevention for the young ones, a connection to nature. And some animals make better pets than others. As someone who has watched first-hand the demise of too many cherished pets, I have come to understand that some animals just fit into the human household better. And that household is changing. Cats have recently overtaken dogs as the most popular American pet and this trend is expected to continue. The internet is finally starting to make a real impact in our lives and making people choosier than ever. Now, when looking for a family pet, you are not restricted to local pet stores and the paper. You can pay by Pay-Pal for your new pet to be flown to you from another country. Conversely, this offers specialized cottage industries a world-wide market.

So, have I answered the question, “what good are they?” Well, maybe not, but in order to do so, I will have to go out on a limb a little. Here I go:

I BELIEVE: That the experimental breeding of Bengals and other "look-a-like" breeds have far greater scope than just cats. These breeders are forging new ways for us as humans to preserve some of the genetic diversity that is being lost with mind numbing rapidity. Some will say they are motivated by profit and greed and I will say that is so. Profit and the mechanisms of greed must be recognized in order for any system to work. And just what is it these so called “breeders” are trying to do? They are trying to apply free market principles like “supply and demand” to natural resources. This being the “carrot”, coupled with the “stick” of rules and regulations like CITES. If they are successful in blazing a trail we can follow, perhaps in the near future, saving the world will be a real option to flipping burgers as a way to pay the rent.

Let me go into a little more detail about the Bengal cat.

Bengal Cats - Description:
These are large cats but not the largest domestic breed. (That is the Ragdoll by the way.) Females are usually smaller than males and can be much smaller. We are talking 8 pounds here. They are robust rather than delicate and have a well-developed muscle structure. The legs should be slightly longer in the back than in the front. The feet are large and rounded. A broad head that may seem slightly small in proportion to the body characterizes the breed. The muzzle is broad and has prominent whiskers with high cheekbones.

Bengal Cats - History:

The Bengal breed originated in America in the 1960’s. Jean Mill, the founder of the Bengal, deliberately crossed leopard cats with domestic cats in 1963 for several important reasons. Wild cats at that time were exploited for the fur market, nursing female leopard cats were shot for their pelts and their cubs were shipped off to pet stores worldwide. Most of the wild kittens from this era ended up in zoos or escaped onto city streets. Jean Mill hoped that by putting a leopard coat on a domestic cat, the pet trade could be safely satisfied and this could in turn dissuade fashionable women from wearing furs that looked like friends’ pets and this in turn would result in less poaching of wild species.

The Bengal is the result of years of careful selective breeding and is an exquisite, pedigreed domestic cat with the look of its wild ancestor and an excellent dependable temperament.

Bengal Cats - Coat or “Pelt”:
The Bengal cat has a very soft short to medium length “pelt” that is slightly longer in kittens. It is thick and luxurious and comes in various colors and patterns. It is completely waterproof due to a third layer of hair non-existent in other domestic breeds. And it is this third layer that give these cats their characteristic “slick” feel. (Some have this “slickness” more than others. ) It is desirable for Bengal Cats to have what is called “glitter” which is a weird coating on some of a Bengal’s individual hairs that… well, glitters. Until you have seen it with your own eyes. You haven’t seen it.

Temperament and Habits:
Bengal cats make excellent pets. They like to play and often use their paws as hands. They can learn to catch and fetch. As well as how to play tag and hide-n-seek. They have however retained some of the instincts peculiar to wild cats. They are avid tree climbers, so supplying them with a “tree” is essential. They are intelligent, tolerant and playful, making them good companions for children and are generally good with other cats and dogs.

Temperament very much depends on the background of the Bengal cat.   Over the years, it has become apparent that even Bengals with a high percentage of Asian Leopard cat in their heritage, can make fantastic pets if properly socialized by the breeder.

Diet:
I can not recommend enough that you feed your Bengal at lease some raw food.  No matter what you decide to feed you cat, the point of people arguing for the importance of diet is: Diet is something over which you have a lot of control, and a good diet will lead to a healthier cat. The diet of an animal is very important if it is to live with and overcome disease. It is important to note that veterinary medicine is not nearly as advanced as human medicine and often sicknesses are difficult to even diagnose, much less treat.