Denna underbara hybridkattras kan spåra sitt DNA till faktiska vilda kattdjur, nämligen den asiatiska leopardkatten. Den kallas bengalkatten för dess vilda avkommas latinska namn – Prionailurus bengalensis – även om den asiatiska leopardkattens utbredning sträcker sig utanför den lilla Bengal-regionen. Kattentusiaster och forskare har fascinerats av att skapa hybrider sedan slutet av 1800-talet, då kattutställningar började ta fart. Under 1930- och 1940-talen registrerades flera försök att skapa den moderna bengaliska katten, med nedslående resultat.
Det var inte förrän 1963 som den första bengaliska katten föddes till Jean S. Mill, produkten av hennes tamkatt av hankön och en "leopardkatt" som hon köpte från en djuraffär. Kin Kin, som hon hette, trotsade forskarnas förväntningar och fortsatte med att producera en andra generation av bengaler. Katthybridisering tog fart på 1970-talet, särskilt efter upptäckten av vissa vilda katters naturliga immunitet mot sjukdomar som FIV och FeLV. Jean S. Mill fokuserade om på bengaliska katter 1980 och köpte flera för att korsa med en leopardlik gatukatt hon hittade i Indien.
Bengalkatten accepterades av The International Cat Association (TICA) som en ny kattras 1986, och fick championskapsstatus 1991. Dagens utställning Bengaler är den femte generationen sedan Jean S. Mills ursprungliga kattdjur, långt borta från sina vilda rötter.
Bengalkattens personlighet och temperament
While it’s important to remember every cat has its own individual personality, there are some traits most Bengals generally have. The breed is known for its uniqueness and is frequently described as intelligent, inquisitive and interactive. Bengals have been known to play basic games like fetch or hide-and-seek, enjoying playtime and general mischief. Those swimming cat videos contain largely Bengal cats, “kitty-paddling” laps in a bathtub.
Attachment to humans is also an important part of the Bengal personality. If you’re looking for a constant companion, curious in everything you do, then this is the right breed for you! “Bengals will also, in general, ALWAYS want to be where you are. After all, that’s where the action is!” advises TICA. “And Bengals are all about ‘the action.'” Channel their high energy into mental stimulation, with puzzle toys, supervised outdoor visits or a catio, a birdhouse (to watch), or general hunt-based play with toys.
Bengal Breeders or Rescue?
Most pet parents looking for a specific breed of cat go straight to a breeder for their new fur baby. However, there are always breed-specific rescues that have plenty of felines who need furever homes. A quick Internet search for “Bengal rescue” shows organizations across the country (and world) dedicated to rehoming Bengal cats. Many Bengal rescues are regional, so even if the group isn’t based in your state, give them a call! If they can’t help you, ask if they know anyone in your area who can; the Bengal Rescue Network has affiliates in every corner of the country and even Canada.
However, if you do decide to go to a Bengal breeder, it’s important to ensure he or she is reputable and will provide you with a healthy pet. Besides your initial search, nothing should be conducted on the Internet! Always visit the breeder’s facilities and meet your pet-to-be in person before making any financial commitments. Ask to see other animals as well, and find out the daily routine – How much playtime do they get? When are they fed? Where do they sleep? For your future pet in particular, ask in-depth questions about personality, quirks, health, and even favorite toys or siblings. If a breeder is loving and professional, they should know the cat like their own pet – after all, they bring these “fur babies” into the world! Be wary of any breeders who want to ship an animal to you or will not provide you with a vet’s clean bill of health. Asking to meet you in a place besides your home or their facilities – say, a grocery store or parking lot – is also a red flag.
Marbled, Glitter, Silver and Snow Bengal Cats
While these may sound like items in a toddler’s craft kit, they’re actually Bengal coat colors and patterns! Most Bengals are varying shades of brown, according to Bengals Illustrated, the breed’s most popular magazine. “No matter what the color/tone, the pattern on a Bengal cat should yield a high degree of contrast,” the publication says. All-black Bengals, often called “pantherettes,” are unrecognized by the TICA for competition status, although many unaffiliated groups celebrate them. Long-haired Bengals have also been reported but are uncommon, the result of a recessive gene.
A marbled Bengal cat has more splotches and swirls than leopard-like spots, which can be reminiscent of a boa snake. The breed’s fur is noted for its excessive sheen, which often seems to glitter in direct light; flecks of gold or silver on the shaft of individual hairs gives the Bengal cat its shine. Sometimes mistaken for Egyptian Maus – whose facial structure, markings and body shape are much different – the silver Bengal is a relatively newcomer to the breed; true silvers have no yellow undertones, and pewter to black spots.
Although generally referred to as the white or snow Bengal cat, there are technically several patterns with a white base coat. Seal Lynx Points, Seal Minks, and Seal Sepias show a spectrum of contrasting colors – all have a coat color described as “creamy” white, not pure. Snow Bengals can have gorgeous green, blue or copper eyes, and coat patterns often develop as a kitten ages.
(Featured image via Wikimedia Commons)
