The Bengal cat is the first documented cross between a nondomestic cat -- the Asian
leopard cat -- and the domestic cat. Today's Bengal is a truly domestic cat with the look of
a small forest dwelling wild cat. Research has shown the Asian leopard cat has a natural
immunity to feline leukemia, a viral cancer.

 The original idea was to create a cat that resembled a leopard with the temperament of a
domestic cat, generally a brown spotted tabby. The idea quickly expanded with the
addition of the marble pattern and the albino series of colors: seal lynx, seal mink and
seal sepia. The albino series of colors gives a whitish to cream coloring of the background
and contrasting spots or marbling, and eyes ranging from blue in the seal lynx to green to
gold in the seal sepia.

 The conformation of the Bengal cat resembles the nondomestic ancestor. Bengals are a
medium to large breed, typically weighing between 6 - 14 pounds, have a body longer
than it is high, hindquarters higher than the shoulders, a modified wedge shaped head,
and high contrast between pattern and background coloring, and a confident, athletic,  
interactive personality.

 The Asian leopard cat has survived by avoiding humans, so Bengal cat breeders have
sought to combine that genetic shyness with a friendly domestic personality to produce
cats that seek and want human contact. Combining selection with proper socialization
creates excellent house cats.  

 Shorthair breeds tend to be more active than longhair, so Bengal cat owners should
utilize vertical space as well as floor space for movement and entertainment. Bengal
owners enjoy the cats' low maintenance coats and often find the hair to be less shedding
and less allergy causing. Bengal cats tend to follow their owners around, get involved in
whatever activity their humans are doing, play in water, play fetch, walk on leashes, play
with and otherwise entertain their owners. They are excellent with other animals as well as
with people.
Bengal Cats