The Bengal or Bengali cat, is a hybrid breed of cat between a domestic cat and a wild cat, the Asian leopard cat. Although it has wild features, its playful nature and its amazing taste for water. It is an excellent company with which you will spend pleasant moments with this affectionate companion

Photos and Images of Bengal cats

In this section you can find photographs of the Bengal or Bengali cat. Click on the image to see it in full resolution.

What is a flare cat?

The Bengal or Bengali cat, is one of the most exotic cats that exist of domestic cat. It has the appearance of a small leopard.

What is the origin of the Bengal cats?

The Bengali cat was born in 1963 as a result of the cross between the domestic cat and the Asian leopard cat.

In 1963, the North American Jean Mill, a genetic expert, started the breeding program. Fruit of the chance, Mill crossed a male of short black hair with a female cat Felis bengalensis.

The race was consolidated in the 1970 decade, after crosses were made with other races such as the Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Abyssinian and Siamese. According to studies from the University of California on the resulting hybrids, they indicated partial immunity to feline leukemia. In 1985 Jean Mill exhibited these kittens for the first time in an exhibition in the category New Race and Color Class. Everyone was surprised with the new race, beautiful and affectionate Bengali cat breed.

The Asian leopard cat was the ideal wild cat to give birth to the flare cat breed, since its genetics is compatible with the domestic cat. The most used race in the crosses was the Egyptian Mau since it had less recessive genes than the others.

The developed and advanced Bengal breed is by breeders of Asian leopard cats, they use pure Bengali cats to cross them. To emphasize the wildest features of the Asian leopard cat. Nowadays the breed is being perfected by crossing the best specimens, which offer a better design than the one that is present in Asians.

What are the characteristics of the Bengal cat?

How are Bengali cats? The Bengal cat is similar to a miniature leopard. It is a slender and muscular cat with the appearance of a wild cat. Its head is wide and rounded contours, eyes large, oval and somewhat oblique. Body elongated, strong, medium size, robust, very muscular. Thick tail, medium length and tapering to the rounded tip. Short coat, dense, leafy and very soft texture.

It weighs between 5 to 8 kilograms, the males are larger than the females. The hind legs are very strong that allows you to jump with agility. The front legs are muscular which gives it the appearance of a predator.

You can find colors like black spotted tabby, brown tabby, seal lynx point, seal sepia tabby, seal mink tabby.

In most bengal cats, today you can find a picture in your head. A tabby formed by an “M”. around the neck has a black collar.

Bengali cat meows have a different seal and have more vocal range to emit grunts and sounds that other cats do not have.

What are the types of Bengal cat that exist?

They can only be differentiated by the color patterns that occur in Bengal cats. Two aspects are distinguished: the color of the mantle and the design of the mantle of its coat

By the design in the mantle you can find the dotted mantle and marbling.

The dotted mantle is when, the points stand out on a lighter mantle, being of different colors.

The marbling mantle presents swirls on the mantle in different colors.

How is the behavior of a Bengal cat?

A Bengali cat has a sociable, affectionate, curious, intelligent, talkative and playful character. It usually coexists with other breeds of cats and other animals.

It has a personality similar to that of a dog, they like to watch their owners and play with objects like the ball.

They have their time to be calm and they will like that the mimes, purr a lot so that you caress them. They will like to sleep and be with you everywhere. They may even be waiting for you at the door when they press you to get home.

Sometimes you will find your Bengali cat browsing through your shopping bag looking for some bauble or food.

They tend to get used to changes and new members of the family faster, it can cost them between 3 and 5 days. If you introduce a new cat, it may be rough the first day, there’s nothing to worry about, it’s normal. Give it a few days and you will see that it will soon be playing with the new member. Some flare cats may cost a little more time, help them to gain confidence.

A particular feature of the Bengal cat is its natural attraction to water. They love playing with her and even swimming, this because of her ancestor the Asian leopard cat. He had to get into the water to hunt with stealth.

How much does a Bengal cat live?

Our friend the Bengal cat is one of the races that unfortunately do not live long, reaching only the 13 years. In exceptional cases they reach the 15 years. Perhaps it is not a pleasant news for lovers of this kind of affectionate and exotic cat, for its leopard pigmentation.

How can I get along with a flare cat?

To get along with a flare cat, well treat it, feed it with your favorite food, roast it regularly.

Above all, it is a race that requires a lot of attention because of the energy it has. Give him his place, take care of him, play with him, make him feel comfortable with you, from games to rest. He will like to be aware of you all the time, so he will be behind you. He loves to lean out to rest with you and even sleep with you.

What do you need to know to take good care of your cat flare?

A flare cat, as well as most shorthair cats, does not require much care. Take good care of it, hold it regularly, it will help you to be healthy and clean. These cats do not need help in their personal hygiene, they will always look very clean on their own. Brush it from time to time.

Do not neglect your reviews with the vet, so your cat will always be healthy.

How to clean a cat flare?

The coat of the cat Bengal is abundant and short, reason why it is sufficient to brush it a couple of times in the week. Brush it first against the hair and then in favor of the hair’s sense.

This breed is prone to producing a lot of cerumen in their ears, so it will be necessary to clean frequently. There are many fluids to dissolve earwax, it is not advisable to use ear cleaning swabs.

Also accumulate a little bit of sebum on your chin, clean it because at first glance it can look like dirt.

Trim your nails frequently to prevent accidents with scratches, as well as to maintain your health. They can limit their movements by causing bad support of their legs.

We must check the health of your teeth and get used to oral cleaning to prevent buildup of tartar. Brush your teeth once a week.

How to bathe a Bengal cat?

Unless you have messed up too much, you will not need to bathe it. In case of bathing it follows the following recommendations:

Brush it well before bathing it, this way you will eliminate dead hair.

Make ready everything before bathing, such as shampoo, a jug and towels to dry it.

Prepare the bath tub with warm water. Wet it gently with the jar.

Apply the shampoo with massages and rinse it with warm water with the help of the jar.

When finished, dry it with the towels and then let it dry on its own.

How to clean the litter box of your cat flare?

We should always observe the cleanliness of the sandbox of our Bengali kitten. If the sandbox is dirty it is very possible that our friend does not use it, that will leave us with surprises in the carpets and furniture. We leave you some recommendations for hygienic cleaning.

Daily maintenance of the sandbox.

This cleaning should be done daily and once a week, depending on how many cats you have.

Before cleaning your waste box, make sure you have a hygienic bag or trash can nearby. Use latex gloves to prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis which is transmitted by stool.

Remove solids and lumps of urine with a plastic shovel. Then fill the sandbox again. Discard your stool and urine in a trash bag.

Weekly washing of the sandbox

If you have a cat once a week will suffice, if you have two at least twice a week.

Remove all the sand from the box in a bag. Wash the sandbox

Detects problems with the sandbox.

If your flare cat does not use its litter box, it may be because you did not place it properly, or it is dirty. It may also be due to the type of sand you use, do not use sands with aromas. To avoid the bad smell of urine, you can place baking soda.

Where should you place the litter box of your kitten flare?

The first thing to take into account is that it has the following aspects:

You should be away from your bed and be clean and with enough space to cover it.

Far from the place to eat

The Bengali cat prefers to relieve itself in a place far from where it eats and drinks. If you place the box near your feeding place, then look for another place to do your needs.

Placing the sandbox in another room away from your trough and drinking fountain, we will make our cat eat quietly. We will reduce the risk of not using your sandbox

A private place

The Bengal kitten, requires privacy to relieve itself, so we will place the litter box in a safe and sheltered place. A place with little traffic, better if there is not a usual step.

A silent zone

A Bengal cat is very attentive and alert while doing his needs. It requires feeling safe, what is essential is silence. Make sure you are not going to use the washing machine, do not locate the sandbox behind or in front of the doors. Although we will not be able to give these comforts to 100%, we look for an appropriate place with many of these characteristics.

What do cats eat flares?

The feeding of the cat Bengal is not very different from that of another domestic cat. Varied food based on quality cat food, fresh water is the basics.

The good thing is that due to his activity he will not have obesity problems. healthy food and abundant moments of play will be very healthy

Bengal cats like all kinds of food. Their wild ancestors were carnivores and feed on prey such as lizards, amphibians, birds and insects. They are curious about cooked food. What we recommend is that you offer them natural foods such as meat and fish if bones or bones, fish and viscera cooked. High quality dry food and for its different stages of life

How to train a Bengal cat?

Educating a cat is not an easy task, but if we have some problems we will give you some recommendations.

Does your cat flare not use the litter box?

It is a problem not very recurrent since the cat Bengal is a neat and clean cat.

If this occurs, check the location of the litter box, make sure the box is clean and free of odors. Take care that your cat accepts the type of sand you use, some cats will prefer common land. This is not healthy for them and it will not be comfortable for you to clean it. Using a binder sand without aromas will be indicated.

Reward your kitten every time you use your litter box correctly, do not forget that it is an emotional companion. They remember the good treatment of their actions and they will repeat it with pleasure.

Do not mistreat your kitten if it does not make its needs in the right place. Remember also that as you record the affection, you will also keep the mistreatment, avoid you, as well as the sand.

Clean everything around the litter box, because if there is dirt and smell of your feces, for him it will be a sign that this place is to relieve himself.

Does your bengal kitten bite you?

Bengal cats are very playful even in their adult years. Their bites can be confused from an act of affection to a lack of it.

If they have a change of environment, this attitude may be temporary until they get used to the new house. But it may be a permanent problem, in any case, do not confront them. Avoid physical or visual communication with your cat, do not respond with caresses or games right away. Show him that you are not a victim.

It will look for your attention, if it is thus it avoids that it bites you, especially the hands, it loves the ossicles of the hand. If the attitude remains, introduce something else that can bite like a toy. You will understand that that is what you should bite and not you, beware that this may be delayed, so, patience.

Occasionally, Bengal cats go through a stage of stress due to accumulated energy, so let them play it and run it. A laser pointer and hard balls are a good alternative.

Does your bengal kitten scratch the furniture?

This is extremely normal and we explain why. The need to tear any object is something natural to this cat breed. They will tear objects that have a porous texture, like trunks, rugs, sofa fabrics and curtains. They do not do this to damage the object, but they feel that tearing causes the object to maintain its aroma. This happens because, the pussycat have glands in their paws which gives them a pleasant sensation in their fingers. They also get shiny nails, you see that ripping for our cats is the best.

Then it acquires or elaborates a vertical scratch resistant enough. Place the rascadero near the furniture that is being the object of your attention.

If you do not use it and prefer the furniture, disturb it with a loud noise, a NO! Your name or a round of applause and then take it to the rascadero.

You may not use it at first, but you’ll see that soon I’ll start using it. If you persist, you can use aromas such as lemon or mint that are unpleasant, and avoid getting close to objects.

For nothing in the world you keep your nails to your cats, this can cause damage to their health in death. Make them a nail trimming.

Does your cat climb everything it finds?

You must remember that this cat breed is extremely active and that by nature they love to climb to the highest places. This gives them security and control of their territory.

However, at home there are places where we do not want our kitten to climb, so we must make the road unpleasant. Placing paper with the adhesive facing up will bother you a lot. Something that you can also use is aromas such as lemon, orange, lavender or mint and little by little it will get used to that you should not go near those places.

What diseases can my cat flare?

One of the recommendations we give you is that for any reason are frequent visits to the vet. Little by little they will know it and they will be able to carry out the necessary tests to prevent and detect possible affections of our companion

This cat breed flare can have the same diseases as the domestic cat. However, because of their slightly wilder character, they are prone to specific diseases. Here we describe some common diseases of Bengal cats.

Patellar dislocation in bengal cats

It is a joint problem that occurs more in this breed of cats. It occurs when the cat’s tag goes out of place, leaving the joint. They are given in different degrees.

Although the elasticity of the joints of cats is greater, patellar dislocation is caused by genetic deformation or accidents. The joint may return to its place on its own, but if it does not, it should be assisted by a veterinarian.

Physiotherapy will be an option, but what the veterinarian will recommend is an operation. Recipe of desinflamantes also.

A good prevention is to avoid that the kitten has obesity, rare in this species, also to avoid the abrupt exercises.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Bengal cats

It is a heart condition that occurs in this breed of cats. It occurs when the heart muscle thickens and causes this body to try harder than it should.

Among the most visible symptoms we can see the constant panting, lethargy. It is more frequent in elderly cats, because this disease develops after a lot of heart work.

The evolution of this disease can cause thrombosis or blood clots. They can cause other serious problems and congestive heart failure, which can be complicated by the death of the cat.

If we see any of these symptoms, we must take it urgently to the veterinarian. If the disease is confirmed, there is no solution that reverses the disease. We can only adjust your daily lifestyle, diet and exercise, along with the medication recommended by the veterinarian.

Anesthetic allergies in the Bengali cat

As well as most living things, the Bengal cat has an allergy to anesthesia. So if we have to go to an operation we must notify our veterinarian. You have to see other options to the operations, however, if it is not feasible, you must administer an anesthetic that does not affect our feline friend.

Progressive atrophy of the retina in Bengal cats

This is a genetic condition, it is impossible to be detected before by the owners of the Bengal cat. The carriers may not show symptoms and pass them on to their progeny. Atrophy of the retina can occur very early.

We can observe the behavior of our Bengali cat, seeing that it is more clumsy and more distrustful. Check your eyes, if you have any changes do not hesitate to take it to the vet to diagnose it. If this occurs, you should act as soon as possible to alleviate the disease process as soon as possible if it is not reversible.

How much does it cost to buy a Bengal cat?

Get this rare bengal cat, depending on where you buy it, you can find it at the price of 700 to 1500 dollars if it is high quality or pedigree. They are not cheap but they are a great investment, if we are talking about company, it is not an ordinary cat. In addition to its appearance of Asian leopard cat, its cheerful personality, playful, active and sociable, they are worth it.

Where to buy a cat flare?

You can buy one of these magnificent bengal cats in three places, and the price will vary depending on where you buy it. You have the options to resort where a professional breeder, which we recommend for this breed, a pet store and a private individual.

A professional breeder will charge more for the Bengal kitten, because he will give you all his documents that certify his origin, pedigree, vaccines. Also, it will solve all your doubts before you buy any animal. Your facilities are clean, the animals in your care are in good condition and will even introduce you to the parents of the kitten.

A pet store, as well as a private one, will not give you any type of document, but if the cat flares will be in good condition.

A private person will let you visit the cat friends when you want it, before buying or adopting them.

In all cases, you must not accept Bengali kittens less than two months old.

How to reproduce a flare cat?

When you want to increase the size of the litter of kittens you must take into account some factors to make this happen. We leave you some data so that you consider the adequate time for its reproduction.

When does a Bengali cat reach maturity?

A male Bengal cat reaches sexual maturity between the 8 to 9 months and a female to the 6 months, this depends on its feeding.

If you want to reproduce your cat flare you must be clear about these ages to reproduce it, however, you may encounter some difficulties with reproduction.

Why does not my kitten flare up in heat?

It may be that your cat flares have not yet matured sexually. This is a fundamental reason to raise a litter of kittens, you must guide you by the age you have and not because of their height or weight.

Another reason may be that your cat flares have biological problems or discomfort that prevents him from entering heat. One of the reasons is your feeding, if it is not take it as soon as possible with a veterinarian.