 |
BENGAL - GENUINE MINILEOPARD-Mia Salmi(text); Sirpa Järnberg(shorten) In creating the Bengal cat several domestic cat breeds were used in crosses with the Asian Leopard Cat--a small nocturnal wild cat inhabiting Asia (ALC)--these were the Egyptian Mau, Burmese, Abyssinian, Ocicat, and tabby patterned domestic shorthairs. |
 |
 |
LooksThe look of the Bengal should be of a wild cat. It is medium or large in size, very muscular, with the hindquarters slightly higher than the shoulders. The body is long. It is thought that the Bengal has inherited from the ALC something more than just its spotted pattern. The typical Bengal usually has one extra vertebrae when compared with other domestic cats.Head: Placement of ears, eyes, and highly pronounced whisker pads create the characteristic type of face, which is seen only in Bengals. Eyes are largish without being bulbous, a hint that the breeds forebears are nocturnal. The coat is short and thick without the typical domestic undercoat, and feels like silk when stroked. It is said that a blindfolded person should be able to recognize a Bengal by stroking. . |
TemperamentBengal cats are very playful and active, with a natural curiosity, friendliness and dependable balanced nature. A show-eligible registered Bengal must be at least four generations apart from any crossing with the ALC. The Bengal is not 'loud' by nature, but it can learn to answer if it is encouraged to participate conversations. Bengals likes high places, so high climbing posts are recommended to keep this active cat content. Bengals are not shy of water, and many enjoy playing in ponds, sinks, and tubs. Some Bengals have been known to join their owners in the shower or bath. Bengals also enjoy being cuddled by their humans but they maintain their independence on that too by choosing the moments of cuddling. |
 |
Many of us living with a Bengal note how clever they can
be and how easily they learn. Often owners find themselves putting
'children locks' on the closet doors. Naturally, there are individual
differences in each cat so not every bengal display the mental abilities
of Einstein. Patterns & colorsSpottedSpots are randomly aligned and horizontal flow is preferred. They may present varying degrees of rosetting (like the big wild cats). Rosetting is the way spots on the body look; lighter colored inner part rounded partially or totally by darker color creating impression of donut. Rosetting in spots is a desired trait, but is seldom achieved. This characteristic is specifically listed in the Bengal standard-- it is something nice that makes the breed look more wild.Spot markings and base color contrast should
"Snows"There is also a 'snow leopard' version of the Bengal. They are: seal Iynx point, seal mink and seal sepia. Seal lynx point has a base color from ivory to cream. Pattern color varies from light brown to dark brown, tawny or leather brown. Lynx point is a facial mask pattern color so color tones on body should be lighter as head, tail and feet. Tail tip must be dark brown or black. Eyes are blue Seal mink and seal sepia has ivory to cream or light tawny base color and the pattern must be clearly darker and distinct. Pattern can vary from dark to lighter browns. Seal mink is allowed to have slight difference in color tones between body and head, feet and tail. Color of paw pads must be either black or dark brown but an even slight rosy tone is allowed. Tail tip must be black or dark brown. Seal mink has either blue or turning from blue to light green, seal sepia has either green or yellow eyes as basic colors. All 'snows' can be either spotted or marbled. |
MarblePattern should resemble as little as possible the "classic" tabby pattern. Pattern should be random (creating impression of flowing marble stone) and horizontally flowing waves can be seen when stretching the cat a bit. Vertical bars are not wanted. Coloring can be two tones or more; desired is at least three tonal colors; base color usually lighter and then darker with some lighter middle tone patterns. Contrast should be strong making pattern striking and clearly defined. Belly must be spotted.
|
