I have seen articles and things about Bengal cats. Can they be pets since they are part wild?

Answer 1

Hi there...Bengal cats are who are four or more generations removed from the Asian Leopard cat qualifies them to be a domestic cat since the wild blood is less than 12%. They make wonderful pets and are no different in dangers than a typical housecat.

The Bengal is a medium to large domestic feline that originates from crossings of the small wild Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) to a domestic cat (Egyptian Mau, Abyssinian and a few other pure bred domestics) in an attempt to create a cat with an "exotic" look but a domestic temperament. After four to five generations of Bengal-to-Bengal breeding the cat is considered a domestic not a hybrid.

Here's a link that details about the Bengal cats and includes many photos as well:http://bengalcat.com/aboutbengals/bengal.aspx

Answer 2

They make wonderful pets but sometimes they don't seem quite like 'normal' cats, sometimes they seem almost doglike.

Mine like to retrieve - dropping the toy back into my hand. I've also taken them out for walks wearing a harness & lead. Fuzzy, enjoys riding in the car ... especially when we went to the beach with the dog too ... though that's only happened once.

They also like being with me & sit outside the door if I shut them out of the bathroom. They're wonderful company. They don't seem to sleep as much as 'normal' cats ... or that just may be because they are so interested in what's going on that they just take very short cat naps during the day.

They feel soft & silky, they purr, they look gorgeous & most sold as pets are now far removed from their wild cat ancestry. Responsible Bengal breeders have also selected for temperment, along with looks, in their breeding. I believe that it is part of the standard that Bengals should never threaten harm.

They're lovely cats.

Answer 3

3 weeks ago I bought a 6 month old Bengal boy. I couldn't have asked for a sweeter, friendlier companion. After only 3 weeks with me he sleeps on my lap, fetches and carries a soft rubber ball up and down the hall, is starting to investigate what I'm doing in the shower and comes running to meet me when I come back in.
They are, in general, an absolutely adorable race and as the person above said if you get an F4 (4th generation breeding) then they make superb pets BUT don't forget that whatever the breed, the way you treat them as a kitten is most likely the way they'll grow up.

Answer 4

Hey Glitter Shic...Bengal cats are super sweet. My friend has one and he always comes over to visit to play fetch with me. My friend takes him for walks on a leash because Bengals are very much like a dog too. Bengal's are very expensive, but worth every penny! I wish I could have one or two because they are very friendly and not to mention cool lookin' too!

Answer 5

The Bengal cat is a relatively new breed of domestic housecat developed to have a gentle and friendly temperament, while exhibiting the markings (such as spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly), and body structure reminiscent of the wild Asian Leopard cat. In other words, a Bengal cat has a desirable 'wild' appearance, with a gentle domestic cat temperament.

The name Bengal was derived from the scientific name of the Asian Leopard Cat, as seen above, and not from the more widely known Bengal Tiger species, which has nothing to do with their ancestry or their looks.

Bengals are medium sized cats - a male may weigh as much as 20 lb (9 kg), and a female commonly weighs 7 to 12 lb (4 to 6 kg.) Male cats are generally larger than females.

Bengal cats are a hybrid breed developed over several generations through a program of selectively crossbreeding domestic cats, possessing desired features, with Asian Leopard Cats (ALC) and ALC hybrids. The principle of hybrid vigor dictates that hybrid cats are often healthier and larger than either parent. The first three generation males are almost always infertile, though there have been the occasional, but rare F3 studs capable of reproduction. The early generation females are typically fertile, and responsible for continuing the genetic contributions of the ALC to the next generation.

The first three generations of these hybrid offspring are properly referred to as the "filial" generations. A Bengal cat with an ALC parent is called an F1 Bengal, short for first filial. An F1 then bred with domestic male yields an F2, or second filial. Kittens from an F2 female and another domestic cat are then termed F3. Kittens from a subsequent F3 mating with a domestic are F4s. The F4 and later generations are considered domestic cats and correctly designated as Stud Book Tradition (SBT) Bengals, and can be shown and registered. Any SBT Bengal is at least four generations from the ALC. Filial cats (F1-F3) are also termed 'foundation cats' and are typically reserved for breeding purposes, or the specialty pet home environment.

A Bengal cat purchased as a pet is usually an SBT. Although some breeders occasionally offer filial (F1-F3) cats for sale, they are not for the average pet owner as early generation cats can be more aloof in temperament and not as easily housebroken. The ALC in its natural setting is a solitary, small, shy and reclusive cat not known for interacting with humans. The purpose of crossbreeding them with domestic cats was to obtain a wild-appearing cat with a desirable friendly personality and gentle temperament.

The modern SBT Bengal gene pool contains genes sourced from many varieties of domestic cats - mainly Egyptian Maus, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, Ocicat, and domestic shorthaired cats. It is commonly accepted that the breed was developed by Jean Mill of California in the 1970s, although Bengal breeders exist throughout the world today. Many breeders today are working to develop specific characteristics in the breed, often by backcrossing foundation cats with particularly vivid markings. The Asian Leopard Cat is comprised of several subspecies, and consequently, they can have considerable variations in their appearance.

Bengal cats are either spotted or have marbled coat patterns. Spots with at least two colors present (rosettes) are particularly desirable. The following colors and patterns are recognized and eligible for competition: Brown Spotted Tabby, Brown Marbled Tabby, Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby, Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby, Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Spotted Lynx Point and Seal Marbled Lynx Point. Silver was also recently accepted as a color variation eligible for championship status. Blue and Melanistic (black) are additional colors that occur, but are not yet recognized by most associations that accept the Bengal breed.

The Bengal has been welcomed as a pedigreed breed by several cat associations - most notably, The International Cat Association (TICA) - but has been refused acceptance by the more traditional Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), the largest and oldest registry of pedigreed cats. The CFA is reluctant to accept cats with wild or "non-domestic" blood in their recent heritage, as stated in its position here.

Bengal cats can take a great deal of interest in running water and often don't mind getting wet. Most Bengal owners have stories about their cat's affection for running water or even jumping in a sink or tub. Additionally, Bengal cats are very high-energy, intelligent, and curious, and so are particularly interactive with their human housemates, wanting to be in the middle of whatever the human is engaged in, and often following the human around the house as household chores are performed. Bengal cats have been known to play games with their owners, such as "fetch" and "hide-and-seek." As their activity and play requirements are high, this is not a cat best left to its own devices for long periods of time, as they can be quite mischievous and destructive when bored. If an owner is likely to spend much of the day away from the cat, having another high-energy feline companion to occupy your Bengal is an excellent idea. Bengals tend to vocalize to communicate with their humans, and are quite capable of jealousy and spitefulness if they feel that another feline is getting more attention, or if they are being ignored. The other side of this coin is that they are also very affectionate towards and playful with their humans.

Answer 6

Yes. they are just a specific breed that cost a lot of money. they are just like regular cats.