The Bengal - A Wild Pet?

Breed history

The first mention of the breed we now know as the Bengal was in 1889, when Harrison Weir mentioned them in his book Our Cats and All About Them. The first confirmed discussion of a hybrid cat was in 1934 when a scientific journal in Belgium discussed the breed, and again in Japan in 1941 when one was discussed being kept as a pet.

Jean Mill (nee Sugden) was one of the most influential people in the development of the Bengal as the breed we know today. She wrote an influential term paper for her genetics class at UC Davis regarding the cross breeding of species of cats in 1946. Greg and Elizabeth Kent were important early breeders who crossed their cats with the ALC and also the Egyptian Maus.

Today, the breed has become very popular with around 60,000 cats registered with TICA, though not all associations accept them. The Cat Fanciers Association is one example of a group that will not accept them because of their hybrid status.

In 2007, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK removed the previous requirement for owners to have a license to own these cats.

Description

The ideal of a Bengal is a cat that resembles the wild Asian Leopard Cat with the trustworthy and pleasant temperament of a domestic cat. These cats are large and very muscular with high hindquarters and a thick tail. Their coat is spotted or marbles and has a gold or pearl dusting effect to their coat that is unique to the Bengal.

The voice of these cats is also different to other domestic cats; they are known for their cooing and chirping noises as well as normal cat vocalizations. They enjoy playing in water and love to jump and somersault.

The F system

Currently there is a system used to designate how many generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat a particular Bengal is. For example, an F4 is four generations removed from the wild cat while F2 is only two generations. Experienced Bengal keeps recommend that F1-3 are not kept as pets but as breeding animals in special housing while F4 onward are perfectly suited as pets.

Living with a Bengal

While every cat is as different as every human is, when it comes to living with a Bengal there are a few points to bear in mind. These cats have a very distinct and strong personality, being intelligent, lively and very interactive cats who demand a full two-way relationship with their owners. They are dynamic and very much involved in the activities around the house, which makes them sound much like the Oriental breeds. Yet breeders are quick to say that this not the case.

Firstly, these cats are shown to be extremely athletic. They climb anything available, love to run around and can jump spectacular heights. They are known to jump onto people's shoulders from a couple of meters away to see what the person is doing. Kittens are often described as a stampede of spotty fluff that are constantly on the go and seem to be everywhere at once.

However, this isn't to say that they never rest. Around 60% of the time, they are the placid and cuddly cat that rolls onto its back for a cuddly or nuzzles your face. They like to snuggle up with their owners and will often sleep next to them at night.

The main problem people encounter with the Bengal can come from one of their most basic characteristics - their energy levels. Because they are so active, bounding around the house and jumping about people often are scratched by accident or even tripped over! This may mean that they are not ideal in a household with small children as the accidents could be more severe. They can be trained and will learn that a hiss or a firm 'stop' or 'no' will teach them not to do something but most of the time, scratches and such are accidents caused by their pure exuberance.

Protecting your Bengal

There are a few basic ideas to keep in mind to protect your Bengal:

• Keep them indoors so they don't get lost or run in front of a car
• Make sure they always have an ID tag on a collar with your phone number on it so that if they do get lost, someone can get in touch with you but don't put the cat's name or your name on the tag
• Consider microchipping for the same reason
• Install netting over windows that need to be open as they are great escape artists
• When travelling, use the correct travelling cage and face them away from strangers
• Teach your Bengal its name and get them to respond to it
• Consider insuring your cat as while generally healthy, it can expensive if anything goes wrong

Conclusion

People sometimes view the Bengal as wild and while it can sometimes act a bit wild, it is a completely domesticated cat. It is however a very energetic and full-on cat that may not be suitable for every household, particularly those with small children. If your home does seem the right place for one of these cats, they make fantastic and devoted members of the family.

For more information on breeds of cats to help you choose the right one for your family, feel free to check out my other articles at http://www.thebestcatlitterbox.com

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