The Bengal is
a hybrid breed of domestic cat. Bengals result from crossing a domestic feline
with an Asian leopard cat (ALC), Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis.
The Bengal cat
has a desirable "wild" appearance with large spots, rosettes, and a
light/white belly, and a body structure reminiscent of the ALC. The Bengal
possesses a gentle domestic cat temperament, if separated by at least four
generations from the original crossing between a domestic feline and an ALC.
The name
"Bengal cat" was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian leopard
cat (P. b. bengalensis), and not from the more distantly related Bengal tiger.
Appearance
:-
Bengal cats
have "wild-looking" markings, such as large spots, rosettes, and a
light/white belly, and a body structure reminiscent of the leopard cat.[1] A
Bengal's rosetted spots occur only on the back and sides, with stripes
elsewhere. The breed typically also features "mascara" (horizontal
striping alongside the eyes), and foreleg striping.
The Bengal cat
is usually either classed as brown-spotted or snow-spotted (although there are
more colours, brown and snow are the only colours of Bengal that the Governing
Council of the Cat Fancy (UK) recognize). Within brown Bengals, there are
either marble or spotted markings. Included in the spotted variation is
rosetted, which consists of a spot with a dark line surrounding it. Snow
Bengals are also either marble or spotted, but are also divided into blue-eyed
or Any Other Colour eyes.
The
International Cat Association recognizes several Bengal colours (brown, seal
lynx point, mink, sepia, silver) and patterns (spotted and marbled) for
competition. In the New Traits class, other colours may be shown, as well as
longhairs.
Temperament
and health :-
After three
generations from the original crossing, the breed usually acquires a gentle
domestic cat temperament; however, for the typical pet owner, a Bengal cat kept
as a pet should be at least four generations (F4) removed from the leopard cat.
The so-called "foundation cats" from the first three filial
generations of breeding (F1–F3) are usually reserved for breeding purposes or
the specialty pet home environment.
Since the late
1960s—when the Bengal cat was developed through hybridization of Asian Leopard
cats and domestic cats—it has gained huge popularity. However, in recent years,
a novel early-onset autosomal recessive disorder was described in this breed.
This disease appears to be an early-onset primary photoreceptor disorder,
leading to blindness within the first year of age.
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