Who is the Bengal cat
The Bengal cat is a little miracle of nature! It is a hybrid cat, something between a domestic cat and an Asian leopard (Prionailurus Bengalensis), a small wild cat found in the Bengal region in the northeastern part of South Asia. The result of this fusion is impressive: a mini-leopard with the “wild” look of the Asian leopard and the “playful” character of a domestic cat! The coat of these cats delights people, especially the shine (glitter) that is striking when they play in the sun.
Thinking about this, we chose the name of our cattery “Sunhunters”. Below you will find all the necessary information about the Bengal cat breed!
Origin of the Bengal cat breed
It was in 1963 that the American Jean S. Mill first created a hybrid of this cat. From this cross, the first hybrids called “F1” (1st generation) were born, and then “F2” (2nd generation), semi-wild cats. After the 4th and 5th generations, the Bengal cat was called “domestic”. In our program, we produce 7th and 8th generations after the Asian leopard, which allows us to create very affectionate and good-natured kittens.
It took several years for the Bengal cat breed to be recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA), and only in 1985 was Jean S. Mill able to take part in its first cat show. The success was immediate, and today this breed is more popular than ever on a global scale!
Bengal cat coat
One of the first things most people notice about the Bengal cat’s build is its beautiful fur, which mimics its ancestors. All over the Bengal cat’s body you can see spots, also called rosettes, and they are what give it its exotic look. When you pet a Bengal cat, you notice how soft and silky its fur is. Sometimes we see a thin shimmering veil on its body that looks like gold dust, called “glitter”.
Another important point: the Bengal cat breed is not hypoallergenic, despite what many breeders claim. They are short-haired and shed very little, which reduces the impact on allergy sufferers. However, before asking yourself: "how to choose a Bengal kitten?", you should check whether you can live with one if you have allergies.
Patterns and colors of the Bengal cat
The Bengal cat can have 2 different patterns: spotted / rosetted and marbled. In addition, the Bengal cat can be of different colors. Many are breathtaking! Some even imitate the snow leopard, the black panther and the traditional leopard. Our Sunhunters cattery mainly specializes in the brown n24 color, and melanistics are often born. We also have a “snow” sire.
Weight and life expectancy
Bengals are considered medium to large cats. The weight of an adult Bengal cat ranges from 4 to 8 kilograms for a male and from 3 to 6 kilograms for a female. The average life expectancy is 14-16 years.
Constantly improving the Bengal breed
As Bengal cat breeders, we always strive to improve all indicators. The goal is to get as close as possible to the breed standards and a beautiful color with contrasting rosettes, a pleasant pattern, a wild head with a strong muscular body, short silky fur and a short thick tail.