A cat with spots like a leopard breed

Bengals' coats are short, shiny, and silky, but most stunning is their coloring. The contrasting black or brown pattern of spots, rosettes and marbled streaks can be arranged on a golden-orange, silver, white and beige background. Blue coloring is recognized yet only by felinological system TICA, and coloring in the form of black stripes on ashy background (melanistic) is very rare and still is out of standard.

Bengal cat: history, standards, character, content

The Bengal is a dream for those who yearn to make friends with a tiger or cougar. This mini leopard cat harmoniously combines the habits of a wild animal and sociability of a house fluffy. In addition, he is a real beauty, but this cat should not be bought only because of the beautiful "coat. His character is quite complex, and therefore suitable domesticated "savage" is not for everyone. Before paying a lot of money for a Bengal cat kitten, it is useful to learn about all aspects of its character and the subtleties of maintenance.

Bengals are one of the youngest breeds of domestic cats. In 1961, Jean Mill, an American genetics biologist and just an admirer of felines, bought a kitten wild Bengal cat at the market in Thailand. Because of their beautiful fur, these animals were mass exterminated, and their offspring were sold to tourists as living souvenirs. That's how the Asian beauty Malaysia made its way to the United States.

She tried to avoid her owner, but found a common language with her mongrel cat. As a result, the semi-wilded purr-fect Kin-Kin was born, who in turn, gave birth to two babies. Only the bengal girl survived. She inherited not only her mother's coloring, but also a completely wild character. Her brother, and the Kin Kin herself, tragically died. That was the end of the first attempt to breed a domestic "leopard.

A little later, Madame Mill, passionate about cat breeding, received a few hybrids of a common domestic cat and an Asian leopard beauty (aka wild Bengal cat). The kittens were bred as part of a leukemia research project led by Dr. Centerwall. The hybrid babies proved to be resistant to the disease. The half-breed boys, alas, were infertile.

Jean crossed the mature kittens with an Indian Mau cat named Tory. He had a spotted bronze color and a surprisingly shiny coat (glitter effect), which he passed on to his numerous offspring. Nowadays one can meet a mention of Tori in pedigree of almost every Bengal cat.

Origin of the breed

Bengals are a product of breeding, it is a hybrid of various domestic cats (mostly Burmese and Mau) and the wild Bengal cat (also called Far Eastern cat). The latter are widespread throughout the Asian part of the world and resemble a leopard in color, but much smaller in size.

The origin of today's domestic Bengal cats is associated with the name of the American biologist and geneticist Jean Mill (Sugden). She devoted her whole life to breeding and was involved in the scientific and practical development of this problem. It was Mill who, in the 1960s, purchased a wild Bengal cat kitten in Thailand and brought it home to America.

At home, the scientist had a regular black cat, and as a result, the grown Bengal cat brought offspring, which was surprising because the result of such interspecies cross-breeding was quite viable. The kitty, named Kin-kin, had inherited her mother's unusual exotic color. Then the geneticist decided to further breed a breed that would have the appearance of wild ancestors, but was adapted to live close to humans.

Due to certain life circumstances, the experiment was interrupted, and the first representative of the hybrid Bengal Kin-kin cats died of illness. In the 1980s the work resumed. Mill continued to cross hybrid descendants of wild leopard and domestic cats. True, there was a problem encountered in many hybrids: the first three generations of males were infertile. But as a result, in the very beginning of 1990s Bengal cats for the first time took part in the championship of one of the largest felinological associations in the world.

Today, most felinology organizations recognize the breed, standards have been developed, and Bengal cats successfully perform at various shows. Jean Mill has made her dream come true: These unusual cats of extremely exotic color have a gentle, gentle and easygoing personality.

Appearance

Representatives of the breed can be medium or large in size and look like real predators in miniature: muscular proportional body, sharp expressive eyes, strong developed limbs. An adult male can reach a weight of 8-9 kg, females are a little smaller, up to 5-7 kg.

The head is elongated, the muzzle is powerful, located proportionately on the head. The legs are muscular, the paws powerful, rounded shape. The tail is not very long, rounded tip.

The eyes are oval in shape, set at a small angle. Color can be anything except blue, depends on the coloration. There is a variety of snow-white Bengals, whose eyes are only blue.

Wide, large nose with slightly upturned lobe. The pads of the vibrissae are well prominent. The ears are short, with rounded tips, small in size. Bengal cats have thick short hair, silky to the touch.

According to accepted standards, Bengal cats can have two types of coat patterns: marbled or spotted (rosette). The outlines of spots, rosettes or marbled marks must be clear.

Spots may be of different shapes. It is desirable that on a belly coat was lighter, on a neck drawing in the form of a necklace is obligatory, and on a tail the same rosettes or rings should be present, it should end with a black tip.

One of the largest felinological organizations TICA accepts as a standard such colors as coal, blue, silver tabby, brown tabby, and also snow (comes in three shades – sepia, lynx and mink).

In the process of breeding, Bengals acquired two features, called by the English terms glitter (glow) and fuzzy (fluffy, covered with fluff). The glitter characteristic has stuck with the Bengal breed, although not all representatives can boast of such a stunning shiny coat. However, mostly Bengals flaunt a silky coat that truly shines and shimmers as if it were sprinkled with the tiniest scattering of glitter.

Character of the Bengal Cat

Bengals are energetic, agile, and playful. They are ready to jump, climb, run and "hunt" – give only space and opportunity. These beauties are quite affectionate and demand attention from people, especially their owners. They are inquisitive and loyal companions, get along well with other pets and are happy to participate in family life.

Representatives of this breed are not prone to obesity, but they can be finicky about food. They are notable for their sensitive digestion. Bengals don't tolerate experiments with food: they need a consistent diet that takes these characteristics into account. It is best to choose a food with a veterinarian who will assess your cat's age and other health peculiarities.

Kanaani (Canaan cat)

Gaining its name from the area of Canaan, this cat breed is based on the aboriginal wild steppe cat and bears a phenotypic resemblance to it. This is the first national breed of cat created in Israel, and little known outside of Israel.

Breeding work has been carried out since 90s of the XX century in the "Ha Jeruschalmi" cattery, under the direction of Doris Pollachek, and finished with recognition of WCF (World Felinological Federation) in 2008. When creating the breed there were made experimental crossings of Abyssinian, Bengal, Oriental and European shorthair cat with wild steppe cat. Now the Canaanite (as opposed to the Savannah) is a closed breed where only intra-breed mating is allowed.

The Canaanite cat is medium to large in size and has a muscular, dry, elegant constitution. The limbs are tall, slender, with the hind legs longer than the front legs. The cheeked head is shaped like a wide triangle. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, oblique, with irises of various green hues. The coat is short, thick and close-fitting. The standard coloration is from beige to brown with contrasting dark and black stripes or spots.

From the wild ancestor of the Kanaanee we inherited Developed territorial, orienting and hunting instincts. . For the well-being of your pet walk it on a leash, play active games, and do not forget to pet it by accustoming it to your hands from childhood. Remarkably, unlike finicky pet gourmet cats, Kanaanis are not at all finicky about food.

Serengeti

In contrast to the above mentioned creations, this breed has practically no "wild blood" and it's basis is formed by Bengals, gradually crossed with Tabby orientals, Abyssinian and European shorthair cats of "wild" color. Maine Coons also took part in breeding. The result was a very spectacular creatures, reminiscent of the appearance of the wild African serval. Even the breed was named after the famous African national park.

The Serengeti was introduced at international shows by its creator Karen Southman in 1994 and is now recognized as an experimental breed with a small number of individuals worldwide.

Male Serengeti can weigh 15 kilograms, while females can weigh 8-10 kilograms. Their body is well muscled, the neck is high, the back line is straight, the expressive wedge-shaped face has large ears and golden, hazel, pale copper or pale green eyes. Remarkably, Serengeti have tall and strong limbs, and due to this exceed their Maine Coon ancestors in height. The short, thick, smooth coat can be any contrasting-spotted color (tabby). The tail, which is 2/3 of the length of the torso, is colored in circular stripes.

The Serengeti are very active, inquisitive and not at all fearful. They adore various sound toys, interactive fun and hunting games. In the house these cats invariably try to get to the top tier, climbing on cupboards and shelves – so it is not unreasonable to buy for the pet at the pet store sporting corner with climbing apparatus. The Serengeti enjoys walking outside or in the yard, but they are not allowed on their own because of their great appetite for adventure. The Serengeti contacts people, sometimes to the point of being obtrusive, trying to jump into their arms at the slightest opportunity. But when kept with mates, they can show territorial instinct and a tendency to domination.

In the period of formation, the young require a balanced diet. There are mentions of the propensity of this breed to kidney urolithiasis.

Australian Smoky

There are many cats in Australia, and a serious, reputable felinological system with a not insignificant number of breeder members. However, there is only one breed of Australian breeding, and it has not been recognized for quite a long time.

However the efforts and expectations have been rewarded: it is a quiet, harmoniously built animal with unique soft as if clouded color and spotted (or marbled) pattern. Its appearance has been collected by "the whole world": selection work involved Burmese, Abyssinian, non-breeds (of course) and, later, Siamese cats.

Curious facts about Bengal cat

1. To attract the attention of the owner, a Bengal will… Hide things! Hair bands, hairpins, pens and toys can be found in the most unexpected places.

2. If you're going to take a bath, be prepared that the pet will want to accompany you. Or even join you. Attempting to close the door will result in a loud and demanding meow.

3. The sounds made by Bengal cats are a whole set of different intonations. This is how pets express the whole range of emotions. And a loud purr can be heard from the next room.

4. Most representatives of the breed have lactose intolerance, so it is better not to give them milk.

Breeds of house cats

Of the most spotted and furry cat breeds, only three have the tabby color as their only recognized color. It was obtained without the involvement of feral cats.

Otsiket

Otsikets are the result of crossing three species of felines: American Shorthair, Abyssinian, and Siamese. In their behavior, these cats strongly resemble brisk dogs. They are strongly attached to their owners, love road trips and are constantly on the move.

Because of the playful nature of the otsiket, it is mandatory to have as many toys as possible. Otherwise, he is sure to borrow your things.

The purchase of a play set that will allow your pet to stretch his paws and frolic at his own pleasure is not unreasonable. With its love of movement and play, the Ociket can be taught a few tricks: jumping over hurdles and jumping over the ring on command.

Egyptian Mau.

The graceful Egyptian Mau is easily recognized by the "scarab," a black W-shaped mark on its forehead. This kitty is endowed with an inexhaustible supply of energy and curiosity. In a special delight it gets factory mice and various shelters, such as linen closet and cardboard boxes.

The maximum speed of the Egyptian Mau is the same as that of the leopard, i.e. 58 km/h.

To get rid of yellowing, Egyptian Mau with a silver color must be washed with a special tonic before a show. There are usually no problems with bathing, because these whiskered pets love water. Until they are completely dry, they should be protected from draughts, fraught with the development of colds.

Pixiebob

Pixiebob's ears are decorated with lynx tassels, and there are light-colored spots on the back of the ears. The main feature of this cat is its low-set, short tail. Its size is about 5 cm.

Rare and hybrid breeds

This group includes experimental breeds that have not received official recognition, and hybrids – animals bred by crossing domestic and wild cats. The danger of the latter depends on the generation.

Bengal

Among the popular breeds of spotted like a leopard cat, the Bengal cat should definitely be mentioned. It was obtained by crossing the usual "murka" with a Far Eastern cat, from which the "Bengal" has inherited not only the original coloring, but also an unusually silky coat.

Aggression occurs only in the first three generations, that is, in kittens who are as closely related to the wild ancestor. All other "Bengals" are very social and easily find common ground with people and other animals.

Savannah

The Savannah tops the list of the most expensive mustachioed pets, because you need a real African serval to get it. The rest of the animal's genes are inherited from the "Bengal". As with all hybrids, the Savannah's character depends on its generation.

When buying such an exotic pet, it is important to consider its size, activity and sociability. If you do not have your own house or you are just too often absent from work, then the savannah will definitely not suit you. Due to the lack of space it will certainly make a mess in the apartment, and because of the lack of attention – will become withdrawn and unsociable.

Serengeti

Among the officially recognized mustachios, the Serengeti has the longest and most powerful paws. It is not prone to cowardice and takes loneliness with great difficulty. Thanks to its friendliness, the Serengeti quickly finds common ground with strangers and does not seek to crawl under the couch as other mustachioed pets do.

Bengal Cat Characteristics

• Pros:
• sociability, contactiveness and almost canine loyalty;
• love for other animals and children;
• ease of care – many Bengals love to bathe, unlike other breeds.

• Cons:
• high cost – even the cheapest pet-class kitten costs a decent amount;
• Bengal cats are not the cheapest breed to maintain – you need premium food and lots of toys;
• The hyperactivity of Bengal cats can be a problem if there are no suitable activities for them in the home.

The Bengal cat is a popular and expensive breed. They are beautiful, graceful animals, externally distinguished from other cats by their rare coloration.

The description of the Bengal cat breed says that these animals love games, walks, move a lot. They have a sharp mind and even lend themselves to training, so representatives of this breed can be seen among the participants of feline agility. Bengal cats will suit such active and experienced cat owners.

Bengal sets his owner apart from other people, quickly and easily gets used to the family. He is not aggressive, unpretentious and loves children.

A nice characteristic of the Bengal cat: representatives of this breed are clean and, unlike other cats, like to splash in the water.

Bengals – regular participants and stars of exhibitions, favorites of experts and breeders. They are regularly included in the top of various ratings of the best and most beautiful cats.

The owner of a Bengal cat becomes the owner of a pet leopard, which has the grace and beauty of large feline predators, but it is perfectly safe to live together.

The final plus is the Bengal cat's high life span: this large pet can live in good health for 15 years.

History of the origin of the Bengal cat

The breed owes its existence in its present form to the American felinologist Jean Mill. Almost single-handedly, she spent many years breeding and perfecting Bengal cats.

It all started in 1961, when Jean was in Bangkok and saw kittens of a wild Bengal cat on sale. The wild Bengals themselves were being hunted and killed for their beautiful pelts. Jean bought one kitten, named it Malaysia, and brought it to the United States. Although raised at home, the feral cat was untrusting, uncontacting, and preferred solitude, but showed no aggression toward humans.

At the call of nature, the feral cat grew up accepting the advances of the black house cat Gene. As a result of this union, a female kitten with the color of a wild Bengal cat was born, nicknamed Kin-Kin. Kin-Kin inbreeding with her father gave birth to two kittens, one of whom tragically died and the other did not inherit the color. Experiments to breed a hybrid were interrupted by Kin Kin Kin's death from pneumonia. Malaysia was sent to a zoo.

Breeding of the new breed resumed only 15 years later. Jean learned of scientific experiments at the University of California laboratory that produced offspring from domestic and wild leopard cats. The head of the experiment, Willard Centerwall, gave Jean Mill nine females of the first hybrid generation. These cats became the ancestors of the new breed of domestic Bengal cats.

Until 1982, Jean knit the cats with cats of the Burma and Mau breeds. In 1982, Jean purchased a golden-colored wild kitten from a zoo in India and brought it to the United States. The kitten, named Delhi, was registered with the Cat Fanciers Association as an experimental Mau. In mating, Delhi steadily passed on to her offspring the glow coat, which became established in the breed as Glitter, and in 1983 Jean registered the first kitten of the new breed with the TICA. But most of the first generations of cats suffered from infertility, so Jean used wild Bengals in her breeding.