Bengal Cat
Bengal Cat
- Lifespan: 12-16 years
- Origin: United States
- Other names: Canadian Sphynx, Moon cat, Moonstone cat
- Scientific name: Felis Bengalensis
- Higher classification: Cat
- Cat Rank: Breed
About Bengal Cat Breed
The Bengal Cat is a domestic cat breed created from hybrids of domestic cats, especially Egyptian Mau with Asian Leopard cat. These cats have a wild appearance and the body reveals markings and spots. Even with these spots, the Bengal Cat comes in a variety of colors like black, ticked, grey, clouded, or rosette. By the 2000s, the Bengal Cat had become a very popular breed. Originally, a hybrid cat, now accepted as a domestic breed.
Different Colours
- Gray Brown
- Sandy Brown
- Tawny Brown
- Sorrel
- CalicoBrown
- The Seal Lynx
- Silver
- The Seal Sepia
Characteristics
- Bengal Cats are an agile breed weighing between 8-15 pounds.
- They are known for their dense, short coats broadly pattern in different shades of snow, silver, and brown.
- The fur is super-soft and it is relaxing to have one
- Bengal Cats are the only breed that can have rosette markings representing their Asian Leopard ancestry.
- Bengal cats weigh the same as a typical house cat.
- They are larger owing to their muscular bodies.
- Their strong and long legs make them an excellent jumper.
Average Weight
The Bengal cats are generally medium in size. They weigh around 8-15 pounds and range anywhere between 13-16 inches tall. A male Bengal cat can weigh 10-15 pounds on average and females weigh between 8-10 pounds. As opposed to this, a larger Male Bengal cat weighs around 20-22 pounds.
Personality
- Bengal cats are fun to have but it is not essential for first-time cat owners.
- These cats are always curious and love to explore the cabinets and drawers of the house.
- They are small, energetic, and powerful. To put forth, the cat owners view “Bengal cats enjoy playing in the water.”
- Bengal cats enjoy playing, climbing, chasing, and investigating.
- They are smart, energetic, and playful and enjoy the action
- They enjoy attention when their potential is challenged
- Enjoy being trained and learning new skills
- They are independent cats, required to get familiar before living with children
- They can be vocal with a distinctive voice like -cooing or chirping
- They easily get bored, need a companion
Health Issues
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common disease found in Bengal cats. In this disease, the heart muscles become abnormally thick and make it harder for the heart to pump blood. It is a genetic disease.
Another disease that Bengal cats are affected by is progressive Retinal Atrophy, also known as PRA-B or PRA. If the results show the veterinarian tested, it is tested by the breeder.
Apart from this, Bengal Cats are also prone to certain infectious diseases like Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Trichomonas fetus, which is a protozoal infection that causes diarrhoea. It is imperative to maintain proper health and prevent weight gain in the Bengal Tiger.
Distal Neuropathy is a nervous system disorder that causes weakness in cats. It could be detected at an early stage when the kitten is a year old. Though many cats recover, few relapses. Flat-chested kitten syndrome is another disease that is common in Bengal cats. It is a deformity that ranges from mild to severe. The kittens who survive through adulthood usually reveal no signs of disease at the mature stage.
It is advised to keep the cats indoors to prevent other harmful diseases. Keep your Bengal Cat on the right nutrition diet and ensure a healthy fur and body.
Diet
Bengal cats inherit a strong feral tendency from their ancestors, the Asian Leopard cats. And hence they demand a slightly different diet from other cats.
Which food should be provided to Bengal cats is still a major concern for cat owners? For understanding the diet requirements, we need to first understand their feeding habits.
The diet of Asian Leopard cats was mostly protein-based.
Ensure a fresh meat diet beneficial for skin and gastric issues. Research for the right food containing chicken, beef, rabbit, and mix for the best results.
Apart from this, to keep your Bengal cat’s fur shiny and healthy, you need to keep Sardines, Mackerel, and Pilchards consistent in the diet.
Though these are the foods you should feed your cat, here’s what to avoid:
Avoid avocados, chocolates, eggs, sweet potatoes, and yeast dough in the cat’s diet. Consumption of these food items by your cat can lead to diarrhoea.
The Bengal Cat lives a comfortable lifestyle in comparison to their ancestors and hence eats more than what they need. So, you need to keep a track of what your cat is eating.
Eye Color
The traditional Bengal cat has green and gold color eyes. The eye color can range from a gray -tawny to vibrant orange-gold.
The majority of Bengal kittens have blue color eyes. Then within 3 and 8 months, the eye color begins to change to dark blue with flecks of yellow, green, amber, and brown.
Generally, after 12 weeks of maturity, the cat gets its actual eye color that doesn’t change any further. If you encounter any color change after 16 months of maturity, then it can be a medical issue. Consult the vet.
That’s all about Bengal Cats. Hope you like the information. Stay tuned for more.
The Lifespan of Sphynx cats
Bengal Cats are generally healthy and you can expect them to live an average of 12-16 years or more with proper diet and nutrition fulfilment.
Shedding
Having soft fur, Bengal Cats do not shed much as other breeds, but shedding increases with age. In contrast to other cats, these have short hair and clean themselves regularly.
Many owners question why their cat is shedding so much? The possible reasons for this could be excessive stress, anxiety, or weather changes.
Another most common reason for their shedding is the maturity stage. When a Bengal cat reaches maturity, it begins to shed. Its transformation from kitten to cat introduces a change in the hormonal structure. And this is why they shed. This shedding is because of the new coat that grows taking the place of the actual frizzy coat.
Apart from this, shedding in Bengal cats can be the result of weather change, stress, or imbalance in the diet.