Bengal cat: what you need to know before you take her home

 Bengals are smart, outgoing and playful cats. But there are some nuances and peculiarities in care, we advise you to familiarize yourself in advance. Perhaps a pet is not right for you.

History of the breed

The Bengal cat is the result of the hard work of breeder Jane Mill. In her student years, she became interested in the possibility of obtaining offspring from the royal Siamese and Persian breeds. The scientific director did not approve of this experiment, but the idea was not forgotten.

In the 60s of the XX century, during a business trip to Thailand, Jane saw wild leopard cats and fell in love with these creatures. She bought and brought the spotted beauty home to the USA, where a black cat of the “yard” breed was waiting for her. Soon a hybrid offspring appeared, but it was not possible to continue the line. The kittens did not inherit the spotted color. 

Jane Mill continued to work on breeding. She found a spotted golden ginger kitten. Later, several more spotted cats were transferred from India, recognized as the Indian Mau line. But traditional Egyptian cat breeders resisted the emergence of spotted competitors. And Bengals were not recognized by the authoritative organization The Cat Fanciers' Association for a long time, until the 90s of the XX century.

External signs 

Bengals are quite large creatures, but inferior in size to Maine Coons and Savannahs. The weight of an adult is up to 9 kg, the height at the withers is up to 32 cm, the length to the tip of the tail is up to 100 cm. They reach their maximum size by two years.

The coat is dense, adjacent to the body, with a "wild" color. Sign - silkiness, inner luster. The pattern may vary from black to cinnamon, with a golden orange background. Kittens are born with a pronounced pattern, but become pale by 4 weeks. This feature lasts up to two months. Manifested due to wild genes - without such an effect, offspring become easy prey for predators. 

The shape of the head is also inherited from wild ancestors: a modified wedge, with soft contours, smooth lines. The jaws are powerful, the cheekbones are high, the nose is wide and large. The ears are also wide with a rounded tip. The eyes are large, very expressive, set wide apart with a deep set. At night they glow very brightly. The color varies from blue to sapphire, depending on the color of the coat. 

Features of the character and behavior of the Bengal cat

Many would-be breeders are frightened that cats have inherited unruly traits from their wild relatives, leopard cats. But hybrids grown in constant contact with people have a friendly, balanced character. With a lack of communication or growing in an aviary, kittens run wild. This disadvantage is easy to detect when you first meet the baby. 

In general, Bengals are very social creatures. Easily find a common language with all family members. The same applies to other pets: they coexist peacefully with cats, and they are often friends with dogs. Aquarium fish can get hurt because spotted cats like  to dip their paw in a bowl of water , dive into a full bathtub or stand in the shower with pleasure. 

Despite their sociality, they do not favor the invasion of personal space. Too close contact causes discontent and discomfort. They prefer to initiate a “session” of affection themselves. Very talkative, willingly maintain "verbal" contact with different intonations. 

The main trait that does not go away with age is playfulness and activity. With a lack of games, contact with a person, furniture and interior items will go under batch. It is necessary to provide a variety of toys, time for outdoor fun. 

Bengals are intelligent pets. Mind, cunning are necessary for survival among predators. They learn quickly, can follow simple commands, for example, bring thrown things, open the latches on the doors, flush the toilet. In terms of the toilet, they like to dig deep holes, so you need to make sure that the filler in the tray is high. 

Bengal cat care and maintenance, pros and cons

Hygiene

Spotted cats are unpretentious to the conditions of detention. Six is ​​smooth, so it eliminates tangling. You can comb with a special mitten several times a week. The nails are trimmed by 2-3 mm once a month. 

Ears are treated as they become dirty with napkins, teeth are cleaned with cat paste, bath procedures are arranged from time to time with a special shampoo (besides, this is not difficult - the cat loves water).  

What to feed a Bengal cat

Food for Bengal cats is no different from other domestic purring pets. The best option is a premium industrial feed . Such nutrition provides a balance of nutrients, vitamins, minerals. Veterinarians do not advise combining food with natural food. And dishes from the human table can provoke serious health problems. Bengals prefer running water, so you can purchase a special fountain. 

If you choose natural food, then the diet should consist of meat, offal, vegetables and more. But it is worth considering a diet so that the pet does not have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, lack of nutrients. Meat should be 80% (turkey, rabbit, chicken, beef, lean fish). 

The fillet must be deep-frozen in advance, poured over with boiling water before serving to get rid of parasites and infections. You can supplement the diet with kefir, cottage cheese. Minimum - vegetables and cereals, boiled in water.   

Pros and cons  

Pros

• clean 
• educated
• quickly understand what the owner asks
• not sad and not bored
• beautiful and effective appearance

Cons

• high price
• constant need for communication
• remains playful, very active until old age 

Diseases of the Bengal cat

Representatives of this breed are strong, hardy cats. But they have a genetic predisposition to the following diseases: 

• Retinal atrophy – can lead to further blindness.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease in which the walls of the heart muscle become thinner. This leads to circulatory problems. 
• Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency is a violation of the functioning of red blood cells, leading to anemia. 
• Flat chest syndrome - manifests itself in the first days of life, which can lead to death. 
• Dry nose syndrome - manifests itself in the appearance of a crust, cracks and sores. 

Like any cat, they can suffer from food or any other allergies, dermatological diseases, problems with the genitourinary system. When unpleasant symptoms appear, it is better to immediately contact a veterinary clinic.  

How to choose a Bengal cat kitten

Bengals are an elite breed, so buy only from a trusted cattery with a good reputation, and not from the "bird" market.  

Purchase

What you should pay attention to:

• registration and pedigree , the optimal generation is F4-F7 (the first three may have a wild disposition);
• vaccination documents ;
• age - not younger than 10 weeks;
• weight - at the age of 10-12 weeks, the kitten weighs about a kilogram;
• activity - the animal should not look lethargic;
• contact - the breeder must accustom the little Bengal to his hands;
• health - clean and clear eyes, normal, non-liquid stools, no visible defects in coat or color. 

Based on an expert assessment, thoroughbred kittens are assigned a class (the cost depends on this): 

• Pet - due to strong deviations from the standard, they are not allowed for further breeding, these are animals “for the soul”. 
• Brid - slight deviations from the standard, you need a special permission for breeding. 
• Shows - elite representatives who participate in exhibitions are allowed for breeding. 

Settling into a new house

Bengal cat we need an organized area where there will be a play area and a recreation area. Then the animal will behave calmly, will not be naughty and spoil the furniture. 

Basic set:

• food bowl and access to fresh drinking water;
• the tray should be placed in a secluded area with lots of litter because bengals love to bury their "surprises";
• you can put a running wheel where the animal will dump excess energy;
• it is necessary to have a scratching post, sometimes several sets;  
• an equipped place to rest and sleep, otherwise he will sleep on a sofa or bed.  

Names for Bengal cats 

Bengals are loyal, affectionate and active companions. Nicknames can be chosen depending on the character or color.

The nature

• For girls - Love, Fury, Grace, Luck, Mila, Weasel, Lady, Storm, Thunderstorm, Princess. 
• For boys - Alf, Cupid, Caesar, Hunter, Lord, Duke, Loki, Casanova, Lucky. 

By color

• Snowy - Snowball, Ice, Snowball, White, Ice, Squirrel, Winter. 
• Silver - Silva, Pearl, Diamond, Hoarfrost, Gray. 
• Leopard and marble - Fifteen, Leo, Leopard, Cheetah. 
• Coal - Bagheera, Panther, Lynx, Coal, Blackie.