Bengal owner's guide

Bengal origins

The Bengal’s origins date back to the 1960s, when an American breeder named Jean Mill crossed an Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat. Her goal was to create a breed with the exotic, wild look of a leopard cat but with the friendly and manageable nature of a domestic cat.  

The Bengal quickly gained popularity for its striking appearance and playful personality. The International Cat Association (TICA) first approved the breed in 1991 with the Spotted pattern, and in 1994, TICA also approved the Marble pattern and snow colour variants.

Bengal – temperament

Bengals are very active and playful cats. They love to explore their surroundings and are always looking for new adventures. It is not unusual to see a Bengal climbing trees, performing high jumps or chasing toys around the house. Its energetic nature makes it a perfect companion for active owners who can provide it with enough stimulation and play.

The Bengal is a social and loving cat. It thrives in family environments and can quickly adapt to new people and situations. It is also known to be intelligent and quick to learn, making it a good candidate for training.

Training and exercise

A cat as active and curious as the Bengal requires a certain level of stimulation to stay happy. It needs a lot of commitment in terms of play and exercise – and activities like hunting can be key to helping release pent-up energy.

Cat behaviourist consultant Anna Jönsson Bergstedt gives her tips on training your Bengal cat – and keeping them entertained:

• Give your Bengal something to climb
  You’ll need to adapt your home environment to suit the needs of your cat. And for Bengals, this includes places to climb and observe from. Even better if you also include scratching opportunities – like special cat furniture.
• Take your Bengal out on a walk
  Bengals are curious cats, so it’s not surprising that they’re suited to going on walks. It’s important to introduce your Bengal to their harness and lead gradually before slowly introducing them to their outdoor environment.
  Avoid ‘cat backpacks’ for cats to be transported in. They’re too small for Bengal cats and do not offer sufficient ventilation or protection for cats in general.
  It’s also worth remembering that some cats don’t want to be outside with us. They might prefer to explore their immediate outside environment by themselves.
• Use food to keep them active
  All cats have to eat, regardless of their breed. ‘Scatter feeding’ is a great way to keep them active – you can spread food or treats out around the home, and hide them for the cat to find. You can also use activity bowls or food puzzles. However, you may need to do this in place of a regular food bowl, otherwise your Bengal won’t see the need to exert itself.
• Schedule in regular playtime
  Bengal’s need to be kept pretty active, so it’s important that you plan regular play time sessions with your cat. Be prepared to play with your Bengal daily – and have lots of different options when it comes to toys and games.
  To avoid having to buy new toys all the time, you can rotate the toys you have, so that they are not all available all the time. This will keep them engaging for longer.

Bengal – appearance and size

The Bengal's body is muscular and athletic, giving it an elegant and graceful appearance. It also has long legs and a long tail, adding to its impressive size. A fully grown Bengal can weigh between 4-7 kg, depending on gender and genetics.

Bengal fur, colours and patterns

Bengals have short fur and a dense coat, which comes in three different patterns: Spotted, Marble and Charcoal. The classic and most common pattern for Bengals is the black spotted variant, which gives it a unique and exotic look. They can also have ‘glitter’, which is when the fur has a shimmering look to it.

Bengal's three different patterns:

1. Spotted – The ‘classic’ pattern, known as brown spotted or black spotted. The spots can also be single-coloured or they can be ‘rosette-coloured’, which is when there are two colours in the spots.
2. Marble – A marbled pattern that can be one or two colours.
3. Charcoal - A variant where, in addition to its colour, the cat has a darker mask and a dark, thicker stripe along its back. It will also have an overall darker pattern.

The different colours of Bengal cats:

• Black spotted/brown spotted
• Black marble/brown marble
• The different colour variants of the Snow Bengals; Seal Lynx (Siamese coloured), Seal mink (Siamese and Burmese coloured ‘tonkanes’), Seal sepia (Burmese coloured)
• Colour variants of Silver Bengals
• Colour variants of Blue Bengals
• Solid Bengals
• Cashmere Bengals

Bengal health

The Bengal is a relatively healthy breed. However, there are some genetic diseases that they can get, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

It is important to buy a Bengal from a responsible breeder who tests their cats for these diseases and follows breeding recommendations.

Caring for your Bengal

The Bengal's coat is relatively easy to care for. It requires regular brushing to maintain a good condition and to reduce the risk of hairballs.

It is also important to give your Bengal enough exercise and stimulation to keep it happy and healthy.

Bengal FAQs

Last reviewed by Amanda Andersson in May 2024.