Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Bengal Cats

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I think even the most stoic of cat fans who have their favorites can all agree that one wonderful aspect of Bengal cats is that the general public, who know very little about the breed, think it is some kind of wild cat. They expect it to run up a tree and catch a bird or roar like something you would see on National Geographic. The funny part is, they are right. That is but one remarkable fact of many about this stunning and captivating breed. Here are ten things you did not know about Bengal cats.

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Part Wild Cat: Bengal cats are actually a hybrid between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard cat (which is actually a wild cat). The leopard side of Bengal cats being the side they inherit their spots from, usually. Also, the Asian Leopard cat is quite stunning, with large eyes and a very distinct coat that was passed down to Bengals. People assume part wild cat means a partly wild cat, which leads us to our next entry….

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Very Gentle: One massive misconception about this breed of cat is that it is hyper and maybe a bit more wild cat then domestic. That assumption is way off. Bengal cats are actually very gentle, but you need to ensure they are at least four generations removed from the original cross breeding. Other than that, the wild cat aspects may be more predominant. That is why you always go to breeders for a cat like this. Otherwise, you just can’t be sure what generation you are getting.

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(Very) Distantly Related To Bengal Tigers: Another Huge (but completely forgivable) misconception about Bengal cats is that they are called Bengal cats due to their relations to Bengal Tigers. The truth is, their relation to Bengal tigers is far more distant than most think. Almost not even existent a connection, honestly. The name is actually taken from the original (and taxonomic) name of the Asian Leopard cat, to whom they are more closely related and bred. The Bengal Tiger associations are mainly made by those who don’t know much about the breed.

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Very Adventurous: We would know you might assume this, but even as gentle as they are, they have a truly adventurous streak. This can be more of an issue for those who take their cats outside, as some Bengal cats are very, how do we put this delicately, nosey. Curious is a better word. But curiosity and adventurousness can sometimes lead to worry for the owners, so be aware. To take your cat outside or not is another debate for another day. Ultimately, that choice is yours to make on your own.

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Cat Fancier’s Association Does not Recognize the Breed:  This means certain cat registries will not recognize the breed as an actual breed. This also means that we can never truly know the number of Bengal cats in the country at any one time because this means many of them cannot be registered. This sort of stuff goes on at certain dog shows with certain breeds, too, and it makes us really mad.

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Spots or Marbling Doesn’t Mean Bengal By Default: This is another one that throws some people off. Spots on a domestic cat does not instantly mean it is a Bengal cat. There are many breeds and variations of breeds who look very similar to the Bengal (like the Oriental Spotted Tabby) so just because you see spots doesn’t mean you’re seeing Bengal cats. Same thing can be said about variations of marbled Bengals. There are plenty of marbled breeds who are easy to confuse with this breed.

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Only Domestic Cat That Can Have Rosettes:  A rosette is a circle with a darker circle around it, almost resembling a jaguar. Though some people assume this type of coloring and marbling might exist in other domestic breeds, such is not the case. The Bengal cat knows it is special, and little facts like this prove it to be true! Though not every Bengal has them, they are quite lovely to see. They also further drive-home that “we are part wild” ideal many think about them.

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Now They are Only Bred with Other Bengals: Where once they bred this cat with the Asian Leopard cat, that Bengal is pure enough now that when they are bred, they are bred using only other Bengals. No more worrying about the pesky wild cat lineage. But, as said before, make sure the Bengal you get is fourth generation. Anything other than that and you may have more Leopard than house cat. Luckily, that is something we will only have to worry about less and less with Bengal cats.

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Unique Marbling Patterns: When we say Bengal cats have unique marble patterning, we really mean it. Some domestic breeds have symmetrical marbling, but you will never find that on Bengal cats. The best part is that the marbling are unique to each cat and tends to develop over time. Sort of like an ever-expanding and shifting inkblot. If you have a cat that you think is a Bengal, and it has symmetrical marbling, you don’t have a Bengal. Sorry, someone had to break the news to you. Your cat is still lovely, though. Don’t worry.

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There Is A Pearlescence To Some Variations of the Breed: It is hard to capture on still and moving film, but when you have seen it in person, it is breathtaking. What we are talking about is an almost shine and glittery sheen to the Bengal cats fur. This aspect of their coats is best seen in daylight to see just what we mean. This also reflects itself in how the fur of a Bengal cat feels versus other domesticated breeds. We may sound like we are talking the breed up here, but the soft, short hair feels almost like you are running your hand along silk or velvet. A truly lovely cat. When Twilight came out and everyone was making sparkling jokes, we secretly felt bad for Bengal cats. But since everyone no longer cares about that movie, things are good for this shimmery breed once again.

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