The Bengal Cat

The Bengal Cat originated when Jean Mill crossed an Asian Leopard Cat with a black shorthaired domestic cat in 1963.  Crossing the breeds continued in 1975 when Mrs. Mill used female hybrids as part of a study on feline leukemia because Asian Leopard Cats (ALC)  were thought to be less succeptable to the disease.  When an ALC is crossed with a domestic cat, the offspring is an F1, meaning first generation hybrid.  After three generations of Bengal to Bengal breeding, the kittens are referred to as SBT, which is the first generation of Bengals allowed into the show ring.  All of our Bengals here at Sunapee Breeders are SBTs.  Although many breeds of cats have spotted patterns, the spotting on Bengals is derived from a naturally spotted species of cat, resulting in a more distinct and wild look than found in other spotted breeds.  The goal of breeding Bengals is to achieve the exotic look of the Asian Leopard Cat with the personality of a domestic cat, and the most common pattern is therefore spotted.  There are various background and spot colors, however.  Background colors can range from golden brown to ivory, and spots can vary from dark brown to black. A marble pattern is also possible, in which one color is swirled into another.

Bengals are not as large as some people think they are.  Females average between 8-10 pounds and males average between 12-20 pounds.  Males typically have much larger heads and appear a bit "stockier" than the females.  Asian Leopards are only about 10 pounds, so the heaviness comes from the domestic cat. Bengals can have a "glittered" pelt, which looks as if there are little gold flecks on the tip of each piece of hair.  This is an amazing trait of some Bengals, but is not found in all of them, nor is it required by the breed standard.

This is our newest addition, who was purchased from Laryce Vidal and Jean Mill.  We are very excited to have him and he will be siring many of our future litters.

Commonly Asked Questions About Bengals...

What are the differences between a Bengal and a regular domestic cat? It is our experience that Bengals have more "dog-like" personalities Our female loves to play fetch with us, and all of the kittens have really liked water.  That likely comes from the instincts left in the breed from the ALC.  We also find that our Bengals like to follow us around more than our other cats - they are more personable animals than typical cats. Do Bengals have wild personalities? Absolutley not.  If you buy an F1, you may see more wild traits than you will see in an SBT, but regardless, no reputable breeder would sell a wild cat to anyone looking for a good pet.  Bengals do have some instinctive behaviors, such as enjoying the water and carrying toys in their mouth, but that is the nature of the animal.  Any animal can be crazy, depending on how it is raised and I have never met a Bengal with even a questionably "wild" personality, nor have I met one that has really bad habits or manners. Should I get two kittens? Getting two kittens is always a good idea, but is not necessary.  If you are away from home often or don't think you'll have enough time to play with your kitten each day, we recommend that you purchase two kittens.  That way they entertain one another. How much are Bengal kittens? That of course, depends on who you buy your kittens from.  Our pet kittens are $550 and our breeder kittens are $1000.

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