The Bengal Cat is a new and exciting breed of domestic cat, bred to resemble small leopards. Many of us have yearned to own one of the exotic big cats, with their wonderfully luxurious coats and their powerful, graceful build. Imagine having a beautiful spotted leopard in your living room, but one that is similar in size and personality to a domestic cat. This is the Bengal Cat.

The Bengal breed originated from a cross between a domestic cat and the wild Asian Leopard Cat. This species of small wild cat, comparable to the Ocelot or Margay, weighs about 10-15 pounds. By selective breeding for temperament as well as beauty, Bengal cats have become small replicas of their wild ancestors, but with loving and dependable personalities.

Bengals are registered with many cat registries, including The International Cat Association, The Cat Fanciers Federation, The American Cat Fanciers Association, United Feline Organization, The Canadian Cat Fancy and The Governing Council of Great Britain. Individual Bengals must have a four generation pedigree of only Bengal-to-Bengal matings in order to be shown in competition.

Kittens are priced according to quality. Those most fitting the desired standard are considered to be show quality kittens. Naturally, they exhibit the brightest colors, the clearest contrast, and the best patterns with little or no rib barring (tiger-stripes). These look most like the miniature leopards they are meant to resemble, with long sleek muscular bodies, relatively small ears, puffy whisker pads, thick tails, and light undersides. Unique to the Bengal breed is the presence of gold tipped hairs throughout the coat. This is referred to as "glitter" and is present in the best Bengals.

Breeder quality kittens basically have correct color and type, but may have slight flaws, which would not permit them to be shown. Perhaps they might have one or two rib bars or maybe their color lacks bright contrast. However, they have the pedigree and the potential to produce outstanding offspring.

Pet quality kittens might have faults that are undesirable in breeding programs, but still have most of the traits that make the Bengal so unique. Examples of such faults might be: a kink in the tail, excessive ticking in the coat, or a white patch of hair on the throat. These kittens are for loving, not for breeding or showing.

Adult Bengal males weigh 14-20 pounds and females usually weigh 8-12 pounds. Some breeders make exorbitant claims of Bengals weighing 30-40 pounds, which is a gross exaggeration.

The three generations closest to the Asian Leopard Cat are known as Leopard Cat Hybrids or Foundation Bengals. These cats are useful in breeding programs and can make wonderful pets in the right homes. However, they are not for everyone, as they can be high-strung and don't always have the best litterbox habits. Bengals that are at least four generations removed from wild, known as SBTs, get along well with other pets and children, and have domestic litterbox habits. They have the same food and immunization requirements as other domestic cats.

Written by Gene Ducote, Gogees Cattery