The Bengal cat breed was created relatively recently by crossing domestic and wild cats. Thanks to this combination, it resembles a cat from prehistoric times, which is mostly due to its spotted fur.
This breed was created in the 50s in the US by crossing wild Bengal tiger cats with several types of domesticated cats (domestic cats, Siamese cats, Abyssinian and Burmese cats). This crossing did not start in order to create a new breed, but because of scientific research on the feline leukemia virus FeLV. Breeders only began to use the wild Bengal tiger cat later to create a breed with spotted fur.
Bengal cats have a long muscular body and a small, wedge-shaped head. Their small ears point slightly forward, giving them an arrogant appearance. By crossbreeding them with domesticated cats, the content of wild cat genes decreased to 10%. This eliminated the undesirable characteristics of wild cats while maintaining their appearance. Today, Bengal cats have a stable nature, while still exhibiting some signs of their wild origin. They can be quite stubborn and will not just conform to a comfortable and slow pace of life. They are also wonderful hunters, and they need their space to be happy. They can also be happy in an apartment if they have the chance to do their own thing. They are curious, very active cats, and generally have great social feeling. This enables them to get along well with other cats. But it is necessary to take into account that if you already have a cat that is accustomed to its peace or is a lazier breed, it won't be too thrilled about the Bengal cat.
The Bengal cat, on the other hand, will be happy to have a partner. It enjoys company, even human company. It will sometimes even spend the evening on your lap. A dog may also be a good companion for this cat, but it is frustrated when alone and doesn't thrive. Because they still have wild blood, it is necessary that kittens get used to people from a very young age. This is true for all cats, of course, but especially for Bengal cats. The peculiarity of this breed is that, unlike most cats, almost all Bengal cats like water.
Caring for its fur won't take much time. On the contrary, brushing it too much could damage it. Its coat is short and strikingly thick, and extremely soft to the touch, with a unique pattern. Its fur may be spotted, with spots clearly contrasting with the rest of its color, or marbled, which is also contrasting; unlike other marbled cats, its pattern is elongated.
I assure you that if you get a Bengal cat, you won't enjoy much peace, but you will certainly have lots of fun, because this cat won't let you rest :).
Every one of us has for sure encountered diarrhoea in our fuzzy friend. Usually, there’s nothing to fuss about, the body reacts to food that it isn’t capable to digest or that didn’t do it good. However, it is good to know, when we are capable of...
I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog...
Allergy is a disproportionate reaction of the immunity system to common stimuli. It cannot be cured, but we can suppress its manifestations. In the last years, allergies in pets and dogs especially are on the rise. Currently, about 10% of house-dogs...
Today, we are going to take a look at the Feline Infectious Peritonitis - FIP, an utterly exceptional virus illness that always has a fatal end. Most of the cats get into contact with the viruses that cause FIP in their lifetime, even though the...
We can divide dog owners into two groups. The ones that allow the dog in bed and those that feel that this is no option. Let’s take a look at what such bed sharing with a dog actually entails.
If you like going on treks with your fuzzy friends, geocaching is something precisely for you. This way, you will liven up your trips and maybe you even discover places that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I and my pack can’t get enough of it.
Contrary to dogs, cats have a strong bond with the place where they live. That’s why moving is very stressful for them and this stress may cause a number of diseases. It’s a good idea to plan everything well, so that you could make the situation of a...
Even though the dogs went through long years of domestication, they still retain fundamental instincts as we do. They might not be as strong as in wild dogs, but they still play a very significant role in the life of a dog and in their behaviour. So if...
Even though it’s been a long time since our four-legged furry friends lived a feral life, they still have the laws of the pack rooted deep down inside them. It is not acquired behaviour, the need to live in a pack is determined by genetics. And if...
It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together...
The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs...
The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is...
