The Bengal Cat Breed
The Bengal cat breed has been around since the 1960's
where it was started in Arizona in the United States. However the idea
of breeding hybrid animals is not a new idea and there are even records
stretching as far back as the 1880's suggesting that there was an early
attempt at a similar breed of cat.
The idea behind the breed is to create a cat that has the looks of
a wild leopard cat but that has the temperament of a domesticated cat.
Erly attempts were met with some concern as many of the first litters
were proven to be unfertile and so could not continue the breed, plus
their temperament was unstable and so not suitable for the domestic
market. However the modern Bengal is now starting to establish itself
and be accepted by the cat associations as a recognised breed.
The breed is very popular due to their adorable looks and so over the
years the demand and so the prices for these cats has increased.
The
cat has a very striking appearance; it has a long sleek body and is
rather muscular. It has smallish pointing forward ears and its fur has
a texture more similar to a wild cats pelt rather than the domestic
cats fur.
The different coat markings include:
Spotted - A well defined all over spotted coat
Marbled - A distinctive and dramatic marble affect
Snow Spotted - a paler version of the spotted variety.
Coat: The Bengal cat has a short to medium very
dense coat. Very soft to the touch and the American varieties are most
commonly brown in colour.
Eyes: The cat has large, oval soft eyes. The
snow spotted variety has blue eyes to compliment their paler coat colouring.
Grooming: The Bengal cat will not require a lot
of extra grooming. Regular stroking is often enough to keep the coat free
from loose hair.
Temperament: This cat breed is a very active one
that is very playful by nature. It will require a lot of space to be
able to exercise their very muscular body and the ability to climb will
be an important factor. This breed also loves water, which is unusual
in the cat and so the provision of a small paddling/swimming area would
also be an advantage.
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