by Jenn Zamorsky

Created on: January 20, 2009

The Bengal Cat, scientifically named Prionailurus bengalensis, is a beautiful cross breed between the Asian leopard and the domesticated short haired cat. Bengals are bred for their gentleness and their friendly temperament. Although this breed originates in the United States, the "wild" breed of the cat originates from Asia. When owning a Bengal Cat as a pet, though they require no extra care than a regular domestic cat, you should still aquire all the knowledge you can about your cat.

The most distinctive way to identify a Bengal Cat is by it's appearance and markings. The face of this breed is very distinguished. They have a very prominent muzzle with large, long whiskers and high cheekbones. They sport dark horizontal stripes that glide from their eyes to the back of their neck. The rest of their body's are marked with one of two different coats: spotted or marbled. The beauty of the spots or marble colors are breathtaking, making these cats amazing in appearance. The colors can range from browns and blacks to brighter pearls and golds. The Bengals are the only breed of cat in existence that have gold "glitter" in their coat. The back legs of the Bengal's should be shorter than their front legs, giving them a "crouching" appearance. And their paws are large and quite round, as opposed to more angular paws of the regular domestic house cat.

Although Bengals do not exceed the average size of the domestic cat, the males still grow to be slightly larger than females. Females weigh in at 7 to 10 pounds, while the males are at 9 to 12 pounds. Bengals tend to pack on more muscle than other cats, which make some males grow to up 18 pounds. Your pet Bengal can be expected to live up to 16 years in age, and if you care for your Bengal well, they will live a very healthy life.

Feeding your Bengal Cat should not be any more difficult than that of any other domestic cat. Though they require no special diet, it is important to feed them food that is high in nutrients and minerals that all cats need to stay healthy. Bengals also enjoy variety, so it is important to introduce wet and dry cat food into their diet. Being very fascinated with water - they tend to play and frolic in it - it is a good idea to keep a large bowl of water available and full at all times. To keep their coat healthy and shiny you should brush them at least once a week.

Bengal Cats have a very interesting temperment. They are very happy and social, enjoying being playful with other cats, humans and even

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