Cat: Bengal

Origins: Cat lovers who admired the beauty of wild, spotted cats tried to breed a type of domestic cat with a wild-cat coat. In the 1960′s (in North America), the first planned breeding took place between a short-haired domestic cat and an Asian Leopard Cat. The mating was successful and fertile offspring were produced, but it was not until the 1980′s that a concerted breeding program was put in place.

Size: Big. Full-grown male Bengals can weigh up to 20lbs or 9kg.

Physical Appearance: Sleek and muscular. Sports a beautiful spotted or marbled coat. Show-quality Bengals display very clear and distinct spotting or marbling, while pet-quality ones may show more ticking. Coat is rich and smooth in texture, and appears almost to glitter from certain angles. Hindquarters are rather longer than the front half.

Characteristics: Friendly, loving, alert, curious, intelligent, charming. Affectionate and very much enjoy being part of the family, but their athleticism and high activity levels can be challenging to cope with!

Colors: Various colors, most with “leopard-spot” or marbled markings on a background of brown or white.

Special Facts: Despite its wild and exotic looks, the Bengal is very much a domestic cat. It was bred with only the appearance of the Asian Leopard Cat in mind; its personality is all kitty-cat.