Fancy World Cats: Bengal Cat
The Bengal cat breed appeared relatively recently from the interspecific crossbreeding of an ordinary domestic shorthair cat and a wild Asian
leopard cat. Serious experiments on breeding a Bengal cat began in the 60s of the last century and were quite successful, because, as a rule, cubs from such crosses turn out to be fruitless and cannot leave offspring after themselves. Generation after generation, scientists have improved the quality attributes of a Bengal cat and, finally, have come to certain standards. So there was a Bengal cat, a small domestic leopard.
What does a Bengal cat look like?
A Bengal cat is distinguished by its unusual color, which is impossible not to fall in love with! Typically, the skin pattern is marbled or spotted, and the color of the fur itself is golden to reddish, orange, and even ivory. Spots also vary in size and color, but, as a rule, they are already darker than the main color - black, chocolate brown, the color of cocoa or charcoal. It often happens that the multi-colored markings on the skin merge with each other and form βrosettesβ - dark in outline, but light in the middle. And with a marble color, one or more colors smoothly transform into the basic shade of a cat's fur coat. As a rule, the animal has a very shiny coat of medium length. A Bengal cat has a long, muscular, graceful body (the genes of wild ancestors affect their blood, which can be up to 25%), as well as a long tail that is thinning towards the end. On average, an adult male weighs up to 7 kg, and a female weighs up to 4 kg, life expectancy with proper care can range from 15 to 17 years. From birth, they are very mobile and always happy to show their master their dexterity and activity.
Pet character
Often, appearance is deceiving. When you see
Bengal kittens fervently frolic in the store or at the breeder, you will think that a small predator will leave home with you. But this is by no means the case. Despite the wild ancestors, the Bengal cat has a soft and friendly disposition, it usually obeys its owners and is also easily accustomed to a specific place for food and toilet. Their behavior is quite typical for a regular domestic cat, unless they are a little more mobile and active. These pets are very sociable, like to communicate with both owners and guests. Do not deny the pet attention if it comes and lies on your knees or shoulders, which they especially love, and begins to purr - to talk to you.
Little home diver
But what makes the Bengal cat strikingly different from any other is its love of water and water procedures. They wash with pleasure and love to climb to the owner when he takes a shower or bath. But be careful! If you have an aquarium at home, one day you can find your pet in it, fishing goldfish. In general, Bengal cats are unpretentious in care. Like any other pets, they need two meals a day and a clean toilet. Their short hair is enough to comb out once a week and, if necessary, cut the nails.