Bengal cat: a Description of the Breed and its Diet
The Bengal cat is a cat breed that is the result of crossbreeding between domestic and wild cats. Just like the Savannah cat, the Bengal is a hybrid cat.
The medium sized Bengal cat originally comes from the USA. They are considered lively and friendly and enjoy increasing popularity, not least thanks to their attractive coat.
History of the Bengal cat
The Bengal cat has its origins in the USA. There it originated in 1963 from a cross between a wild female Bengal cat (Asian Leopard cat) and a male short-haired domestic cat with black fur.
The goal of the geneticist Jean Mill at that time was to unite the gentle nature of domestic cats and the lithe physique of wild cats in one breed. After interrupting her breeding project, Jean Mill continued her efforts in the 1970s when she received eight female hybrids from another geneticist.
Today the Bengal cat is only bred as a purebred. In the beginning other domestic cats were also crossed in, such as Abyssinians, Egyptian Mau and American Shorthair.
Since 1999 the FiFé recognizes the Bengal cat as an independent breed. Meanwhile it is one of the most popular hybrid cats at all.
Look of the Bengal cat
Although the Bengal cats are quite slim, they have a muscular body and an enormous jumping power. Female Bengal cats reach a body weight of three to four kilograms, while male specimens usually become considerably heavier with five to seven kilograms.
The head of the Bengal cat is relatively small and round. Their ears, rounded at the tips, are set wide apart. The large eyes of the Bengal cat are oval to almond shaped. They are set at a slight slant and are also set wide apart. Possible eye colours are gold, green and brown.
The coat of the Bengal cat
The drawing of the short to medium-long fur is without doubt the most characteristic external feature of the Bengal cat. The conspicuous leopard pattern, which shows to different degrees depending on the colour of the coat, is due to its wild ancestors from Asia.
The possible basic colouring of the coat of the Bengal cat ranges from rusty to brown, to orange, red and black. Regarding the coat pattern the basic patterns are marbled and spotted, whereas the latter variant is much more common. Both spotted and marbled patterns are often multicoloured in the Bengal cat.
Character of the Bengal cat
The Bengal cat is characterized by a self-confident character. It’s considered to be extremely intelligent and capable of learning. In addition, the Bengal cat is very curious and remains very playful and active until old age.
They are friendly and affectionate towards their owners and communicate regularly by meowing and cooing. Sometimes she asks for strokes almost obtrusively.
Keeping and care of the Bengal cat
The Bengal cat has a particularly strong urge to move. They have enormous jumping power and are not afraid of water.
Ideally she should have the possibility to let off steam outdoors. It is also possible to keep the cat indoors. In this case, however, common games and activities are especially important for the well-being of the Bengal cat.
Providing sufficient activities and attention is important for both the cat and the owner: a bored Bengal cat will sooner or later tamper with the furniture and cause a lot of disorder.
The coat care, however, is uncomplicated. Occasional brushing is normally sufficient. If grass mites or other skin parasites are found in the cat's coat, it goes without saying that these must be counteracted with suitable means.
Bengal cat diseases
The Bengal cat is considered robust and not very susceptible to disease.
Nevertheless, there are some cat diseases that the Bengal is susceptible to:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Patella luxation
The life expectancy of the Bengal cat
Exact information about the average life expectancy of a Bengal cat is difficult to give because of the still short history of the breed. However, under good husbandry conditions the robust animals reach an age of about 15 years without any problems.
However, the increased focus on the coat pattern has led to the fact that inbreeding is quite common in Bengal cats. It is not uncommon for affected animals to have a weak immune system and an increased susceptibility to disease.
The right food for the Bengal cat
Feeding according to your needs contributes significantly to avoiding nutrition-related health problems and to enabling your Bengal cat to have a long and happy cat life. In this context it is not only important to consider the right amount of food for your cat, but also to pay the necessary attention to the quality of the cat food.
With the 360° Vital Concept of I love my cat, however, this is not a problem. Because in our range you will find high-quality wet and dry food for cats without cereals and artificial additives. So you can be sure that your Bengal cat tolerates the food well and that your four-legged friend receives all necessary nutrients in the right amount.
If necessary, a food supplement with the following products can be useful for your Bengal cat:
- Dental powder for an effective care of the teeth of your quadruped
- Shiimun Immune as support for the defences of your Bengal cat
- Joints & Bones Capsules for a functioning musculoskeletal system into old age
Leave your comment