A cat that looks like a jaguar: this is the Bengal breed. The resemblance to the big cats has even resulted in a Bengal cat mistaken for a jaguar being released into the woods after being "rescued" in a condominium in Belo Horizonte. The spots on the Bengal Cat's coat are unique, as are its long tail, fine features and clear eyes. He even looks like a leopard cat! What few people know is that, in addition toIn terms of physical characteristics, the Bengal is among the most intelligent cat breeds! This is because of the different ways of vocalizing and the ease of being trained.

The Bengal cat can be divided into a few levels according to its parentage, from the closest to the wild to the most domesticated. Want to know more about the feline? We have prepared a guide with everything you need to know about the Bengal cat: price, physical characteristics, levels of the breed, personality of the Bengal cat, passionate photos, curiosities, price and even the health problems morecommon. Check it out!

Bengal cat: breed was created from crossing a wild with a domestic one

There are some curiosities behind the origin of this cat: Bengal breed emerged in Asia from the crossbreeding of a domestic cat with a wild leopard - that's why it is known as the cat that looks like a leopard. It was only in the 1960s that the Bengal breed came to the West, initially to the United States, where it perpetuated itself and went on to reach other countries. It all started with a woman named JeanMill, who acquired a female leopard cat, scientifically named Prionailurus bengalensis. By placing her to keep her domestic cat company, there was a breeding (which was not planned). That's when smaller domestic cats with the characteristic spots of the wild breed started to appear.

At the same time Jean was doing this, a scientist named Willard Centerwall was crossing leopard cats with domestic cats, giving rise to the cat we know as the Bengal cat. The scientist's idea was to create a cat resistant to the FeLV (feline leukemia) virus. From these crosses, the Bengal cat breed may have species with lineages closer to their ancestorsWith the different types of breeding, some continued to keep their wild instincts more present and others began to have behaviors more typical of a domestic cat. Therefore, today we can classify the Bengal cat into different types.

Bengal cat levels: depending on degree of parentage, breed has different types

The Bengal, like the Savannah cat, also has phases that indicate its crossbreeding, taking into account that the number 1 is the one that has the greatest kinship with the wild leopard and the 4 is more distant. This classification of the Bengal cat is used to determine the behavior and how domesticated the Bengal breed can be, but it is not a rule!

In addition, depending on the type of Bengal cat, price varies. So, before buying a Bengal cat, value and lineage should be well researched. You will only know how much a Bengal cat costs if you know what generation it is. The closer to a wild Bengal cat is, value increases. The price of the leopard cat varies between R $ 1000 and R $ 10.000. However, this is only an average, since, forbuy the Bengal cat kitten, price can be even higher.

• Bengal cat F1 and F2

The F1 generation Bengal cat is very difficult to find, this is because the wild leopard is now considered to be a virtually endangered animal. This level of the Bengal cat breed is the one most closely related to the leopard, so it can be quite aggressive if not socialised correctly. In addition, some owners of level 1 Bengal cats report that they are independent and do not get along with the leopard.become accustomed to some domestic needs, such as using the cat litter box. Males of this generation are usually sterile.

The F2 Bengal cat, on the other hand, comes from the crossing of an F1 with another F1, so its kinship with the leopard is less. Still, it is a cat that needs to go through the same socialization process. Females and males of the F2 Bengal cat generation can be sterile. To have an F1 Bengal cat or an F2 Bengal cat, it is important to offer it an outdoor space, which is shaded but has trees,You can even have an F2 Bengal cat in your apartment, as long as you commit to catifying the environment to give the cat a better quality of life - but you run the risk of it not adapting. In other words, the F1 and F2 Bengal cat are not for everyone.

• Bengal cat F3 and F4

Bengal cats of the F3 and F4 generations are already much more docile than the first two, as they have a lower level of kinship with the wild leopard. The F3 Bengal cat can arise from the crossing of an F1 with an F2 or of an F2 with another F2 - it is always important to ask the breeder about this when acquiring this feline. The F4 Bengal cat, on the other hand, is a cross between an F3 and an F3, and is usually the most docile of all the F3 and F4 Bengal cats.generations. At this level of Bengal, cat resembles too much a domestic cat in question of behavior. The price of the Bengal cat F4 is the cheapest, besides being the easiest to be found.

Bengal cat: physical characteristics mark the breed standard

The tiger-like cat has some physical characteristics that set it apart from the Savannah, for example. The Bengal cat is considered one of the most exotic cat breeds there is because of its unique appearance. In the case of the Bengal cat, size matters! It is a very long cat, which is between 30 and 45 centimetres long, weighs from 3kg to 9kg and lives between 12 and 14 years. In addition to its long size,The Bengal cat also has a long head, but not sideways but forward, towards the muzzle: that is why, in profile, it looks like a more slender cat.

The eyes of the leopard cat are mostly clear, in blue and even greenish tones, but they can escape this coloration - it all depends on the cross that originated that Bengal. Cat of this breed, like the Angora cat, is graceful and delicate, and has long legs to facilitate walking. The coat of the Bengal Cat is very short, thin and shiny, but can give a feeling of roughnessIt is possible to find the Bengal cat in two coat colors: yellow and red, which resembles the leopard itself, and also in white. In both types of Bengal cat colors, in order to maintain the breed standard, it is important that the kitten has the traditional little spots on the fur, which go from the head to the tail.

Bengal cat: passionate photos of the breed

The behavior of the Bengal breed can vary according to the crossbreed

The behaviour of the Bengal breed is difficult to define, since there are several levels of crossbreeding: the closer it is to the wild feline, the less domesticated it is. The cat looks like a tiger but, despite this, it has a good coexistence with people and animals. It is a good breed for families with children. The Bengal cat kitten gets along very well with the little ones between 5 and 9 years old, as it has the same level of sensitivity as the wild cat.The Bengal, intelligent cat that it is, presents a "canine" behavior: it follows its owners around the house, plays with balls, likes water and accepts walks on a leash and can be easily trained with the help of a professional who understands felines.

Although the Bengal cat is a family animal, it won't always accept cuddles or laps. The tiger-like cat breed doesn't like a lot of cuddles because it is quite independent, but it can approach its owners to ask for affection, sleep together in bed and even make itself present in the most different situations - such as when the owner is taking a bath.

The Bengal cat is not a cat that rejects a company of humans or other animals, so dogs can very well live with this feline. However, smaller animals that can be easy prey should not live together with the cat. Bengal breed, in this case, is hybrid and even if it is of the last generation (F4), it can present this natural hunting instinct. Therefore, avoid having hamsters,fish, rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents and reptiles around the Bengal cat. The Bengal cat should be socialized at this stage, which helps to ensure that the relationship is always good and without surprises.

The Bengal cat is one of the most intelligent cats and is easy to train

The Bengal breed is considered one of the most intelligent cat breeds in the world! The origin of the leopard cat with wild and domestic roots makes the animal possess enormous intelligence. Because of this, the Bengal cat learns tricks very easily. Especially in the Bengal kitten phase, this feline usually learns commands quickly. Therefore, training cat of this breed becomesmakes it very easy, since they manage to assimilate commands of the most varied types. With the wild instinct of the cat that looks like tiger very present, it is also very independent, curious and agile, skills that make learning even easier. The Bengal cat is so intelligent that even its communication is differentiated: it has different types of vocalization that help them communicate with the other cats.humans and other animals, through very characteristic cat meows.

The Bengal cat breed needs frequent outdoor walks

The Bengal cat has strong instincts related to its wild nature. Because of this, they have an enormous desire and need to go outdoors. The Bengal cat loves to run, explore the environment, exercise, and climb trees and objects. They are athletic by nature and need to put their energy out in these environments. Thus, the guardian of a Bengal CatThe Bengal breed needs a large space, such as gardens, parks and spacious backyards. In addition, it is worth installing a protective screen on the windows of the house to prevent the furry from trying to escape to the street.

Curiosities of the Bengal: cat is full of surprises you can't even imagine!

• The Bengal Cat is named after the wild feline that gave rise to it, Felis bengalensis.

• In the United States, there's no point in asking, "How much does a Bengal cost?" It's banned from sale in the country because it has a wild cat as part of the crossbreeding that gave rise to the breed.

• The Bengal cat breed is not accepted by the Association of Cat Fanciers (ACF) for the same reason that leads to the ban on its sale in the United States.

• The Bengal breed was only officially recognized in 1985. This makes the breed one of the most recent to be registered.

• The female Bengal cat tends to be less sociable and more skittish than the male. This makes the female Bengal cat more suspicious and less receptive to strangers, and may even adopt more aggressive behaviors.

Cat health: Bengal breed is predisposed to some genetic diseases

Bengal cats are much more likely to have genetic diseases. This is because they are a mixture of wild and domestic cats. Bengal cats tend to have problems with their muscles, bones, eyes, heart and neurons. Among the most common health problems of the Bengal cat we can mention:

• Coxofemoral dysplasia
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Regeneration of vision
• Patellar dislocation
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Distal neuropathy

Bengal care: breed needs special attention to some parts of the body

• Coat of the Bengal cat:

In addition to health care, the Bengal cat requires attention to its coat and other parts of its body. The Bengal cat's coat doesn't take much work to care for. It needs a weekly brushing routine to keep its fur moisturized, but it doesn't require much care beyond that. In fact, the Bengal cat hardly sheds any hair and produces a small amount of shedding.Fel d 1, the protein that causes the most allergies in humans, so the Bengal cat is considered a hypoallergenic cat. In addition, the breed likes water, so there will not be so much difficulty when bathing it.

• Teeth and nails of the Bengal cat:

The Bengal cat has its wild instinct present, so in some more intense games and activities, it can end up scratching someone or itself if the nails are too big. Therefore, Bengal cat needs to have scratchers and toys available to trim their nails and spend their energy. In addition, it is a breed that, because it likes water, you can brush the nails.teeth more easily and thus prevent the appearance of oral problems such as tartar.

• Feeding the Bengal cat:

As the Bengal cat has a certain tendency to develop some diseases, it is important that the diet is well balanced to ensure more resistant health and immunity. From when it is a Bengal kitten, this feline needs to have regular feeding routines and needs the right amount of food. Also, pay attention to the age group. The Bengal kitten needs specific foodAdults and the elderly should not eat Bengal puppy food, but rather food specifically for them.

X-ray of the Bengal cat: learn all about the breed!

• Porte: Medium
• Average height: 30 to 40 cm
• Weight: 3 to 9 Kg
• Coat: Short, thin and silky
• Colors: Yellow and red or white, always with little spots
• Life expectancy: 12 to 14 years