Bengal

Lifespan: 12 - 15 years

Height:

Weight: 6 - 12 pounds

Bengal Traits

A hybrid breed, created by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat, such as an Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Burmese or Egyptian Mau.
Japan is the first country to welcome Bengals as family cats in the 1940s.
Bengals are recognized as a breed by The International Cat Association (TICA) - providing the show cats are at least a fourth-generation descendant of the wild Asian Leopard Cat-domestic cat crossing. However, the Cat Fanciers Association does not accept the Bengal as a breed for show competition.
With the "pet leopard" appearance, the Bengal is zooming up the popularity charts, ranking first in TICA, far ahead of runner-up Ragdoll. More than 60,000 Bengals are registered with TICA.
The International Bengal Cat Society and TICA work hard to maintain the Bengal's "wild" look with a "tame" personality.

Highly active and full of energy.
Extremely alert and attentive. They watch and learn from people on how to open doors and cabinets and other behaviors.
Look up because most Bengals love to survey their surroundings perched on high shelves and tops of refrigerators.
Very demanding. They want and need interaction with people and pets in the household.
Potential challenging temperament. Experienced cat owners can channel the Bengal's energy and intelligence into productive play and basic obedience commands.
Be aware that some Bengals make growling sounds when they eat.

Sleek, muscular body.
Wild exotic looks, sporting 13 different color coats, including brown tabby and seal lynx point. Coat patterns are spotted or marbled.
Wedge-shaped head, almond eyes, wide nose, strong chin and rounded-tipped ears.
Distinctive "prowl-like" walk due to the fact that the Bengal's back legs are slightly longer than the front legs.
Bengals grow slow, taking up to two years before reaching physical maturity.

Their high-activity level enables them to burn off excess calories and maintain a healthy weight.

A true cat burglar, Bengals like to steal shiny household objects and hide them.
Bengals rank among the most expensive cat breeds. A show-quality Bengal can cost around $2,000.
Bengals love to fetch, play in water bowls and walk on leashes.