A touch of nature's beauty with the
loving disposition of the domestic cat
The Bengal is a medium to large domestic feline that originates
from crossings of the small Asian
Leopard Cat (ALC) to the domestic cat in an attempt to create
a companion with an "exotic" look but a domestic temperament.
After four to five generations of Bengal-to-Bengal breeding, the
breed is recognized for championship competition by most international
domestic cat associations including TICA, ACFA, GCCF, and AACE.
The Bengal's beautiful coat makes it stand out in a crowd. Numerous
shades make up the background color of the Bengal, ranging from
golden, rust, brown and orange, to sand, buff, or even ivory.
Bengal spots also vary in color, from rust or cocoa and chocolate
brown to charcoal or black. Some Bengal patterns have inherited
striking rosettes or spots made up of more than one color, usually
a secondary color forming a dark outlining to the spot.
The second Bengal pattern is called marble. This is created by
the combination of rosettes from the Asian Leopard Cat and the
domestic classic tabby pattern to produce a "marbleized"
look, one or more colors swirled into the base colors. Ideally,
both the spotted and marbled patterns should have a horizontal
flow rather than a vertical appearance. Since the original purpose
for breeding Bengal cats was to try to replicate the look of the
exotic spotted Asian Leopard Cat, the dominant spotted pattern
is most common.
The Bengal Cat has a happy, active, interactive and extremely
intelligent personality. Every domestic cat breed has its unique
features, and the exotic heritage of the Bengal cat can be seen
in their every day activities. While Bengals will happily search
out a lap or stretch out on the sofa next to you during naptime,
they are very active during the rest of the day.
The
energetic Bengal is not for people who just want a leopard print
cat for decoration. Whether they are fishing in the aquarium or
playing in their water-bowls, fetching balls for their families,
taking walks on a leash or climbing to the top of the highest
cupboards, Bengals are constantly on the move and are perfect
for anyone who wants to interact and play with their cat daily.
The Bengal cat, like many other pets, demands a good deal of attention
and affection and enjoys being an integral part of the family.
The International Bengal Cat Society (TIBCS) is an all volunteer
society of Bengal enthusiasts. TIBCS is proud to bring this exotic
feline and its enthusiasts and breeders to the web. We hope you
will share our excitement over this new, rapidly developing breed.
