Not Just a Gorgeous Cat!
1) Brief history
Bengals are a hybrid cat breed. In the early 1900s, breeders crossed domestic cats with Asian leopard cats. These Leopard cats are a smaller, wild species native to Southeast Asia. Asian leopard cats — also known as Felis bengalensis, which is where “Bengal” comes from, introduced a totally new set of parameters for what you can expect from a domestic cat. See the picture below of an Asian Leopard cat.
What is amazing to me is that through breeding, Bengals somehow developed a set of totally unique and positive characteristics that distinguish them from all other breeds.
Remarkably athletic, a 'tiger-like' beauty, gait and motion - their coat actually glitters in the light, they don't shed any noticeable amount on your clothes when you pick them up and around the house (basically hypo-allergenic), again are uniquely extraordinarily athletic, have a high energy level, purring all the time and very happy, loving & confident when socialized with care as a kitten and introduced properly with other cats, people & dogs!
They bond with their owner, often just following them around and getting in their lap. A Bengal kitten will become your best friend. They're extraordinarily smart, love to play, and uniquely have a fascination for water. Their appearance, gate, and athleticism - It's like having a beautiful wild tiger in your home that is great with kids! Your guests will find it amazing how beautiful they are and be surprised at how friendly & athletic they are. Very active (love to play) and are inherently very affectionate - the opposite of a cat that just wants to lay around and is indifferent to you.
The allure of the Jungle in a Domestic Cat
Click link below for great 3D video of a Bengal Cat
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/bengal-cat-non-commercial-c1385dae59264da3a7f8453ce180a0cd
Caring for your Bengal starts at a very early age to ensure they grow up CONFIDENT and your fun loving best friend. Their first 3 months before you take them home are critical for your new Bengal. Luminous Bengals should have an excellent temperament because of their breeding. But also they should really want to do the right thing (brought up in our home they are given a TREMENDOUS amount of love, play, and attention - this is HUGE ).
It means your kitten will be loving & trusting (like wants to be in your lap and play with you) more so than other kittens you might find. It is all about: 1) The Bengal breed itself, 2) Breeding for Temperament & 3) How they were raised in the 3 months before you take them home. 1) + 2) +3) = The beautiful, well behaved, fun & loving Bengal you had wanted so much! Make no mistake about it, the right Bengal can change your/your family's life! In the picture to the left are 3 Bengal Kittens crowded into my lap as I work on my PC - just before they are about to go to their new home. Typical of all our kittens.
2) Successful care for your Bengal throughout their life
It goes beyond the scope of this site to provide videos and written words to cover ALL that might be helpful to know about caring for your Bengal throughout their life.
There are many online articles and books that will in a very short read tell you all you need to know and some more 'tricks of the trade' for caring for your Bengal. A greater understanding of Bengals can result in better Care & Enjoyment of your Bengal.
Bengals are not naturally 'mischievous', but can be made that way by not taking reasonable precautions about the placement of breakable things around your house and not providing them with toys and spending time playing with them (remember the king of toys is the feather wand). If they do misbehave, maybe a stern voice followed by: 1) Putting them maybe in 'the dog house' like the laundry room or - much preferred - 2) Redirecting their energy constructively by giving them a toy of theirs to play with.
As a note, in our raising and breeding Bengals, we have NEVER had one that "misbehaves".
3) Are Bengals good with children? - OR - Have your child learn respect, responsibility, gain confidence and a best friend & playmate!
I think a picture is worth a thousand words. Just teach your children good kitten manners and as cats, let them have their space when they need it. Talk about helping kids get well-adjusted, build confidence and teaching them how to take responsibility! You could not do better than have a Bengal cat. They now have a best friend that is always there for them. Totally calming and what a confidence builder. And these cats are fun not just laying around all the time indifferent and taking up space. They are really entertaining, athletic, playful, affectionate, fun to play with, great to watch
AND - fun – F-U-N!
Our experience has been that once a Bengal kitten is gently introduced into the family, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with just how much your Bengal will love your children. One of the biggest reasons why Bengal cats get along so well with children is that children are quite often much like the Bengal cat – they have a lot of energy and love to play.
Again, a key here is how your kitten is socialized before you received them. We go to great lengths to ensure that lots of human interaction and successful socialization take place. Just building on the nature of Bengals loving to socialize & play with children.
4) Will your Bengal get along with another cat or a dog?
Yes, they will – and there is a key. Our kittens grew up around and often play with our dog Jack (a Jack Russel Terrier). We work to make sure they enjoy being with him and so become accustomed to being with and interacting successfully with a dog. We do the same socialization for our kittens along with the other adult cats we have.
Our first foundation female Bengal plays with our dog off and on during the day. They are best mates! Beyond being just a cool thing, it is an outlet for their energy. And after playing they often rest together.
If you have a dog or another cat, take a bit of time to get them introduced and stand by to manage that introduction. Keep them in different rooms, so they can get used to how each other smells. Then make sure both are on a leash and gradually introduce them, encouraging friendliness. A little at a time trying to take each session to a bit of a win. Make sure they each have their own eating, drinking, and sleeping space. This will do a lot to handle any territorial feelings your existing pet might have.
A key here is to understand that cats are territorial. A little bit at a time and you will get there.
Picture to left is our Bengal 'Luna” with her best friend and playmate, our Jack Russel Terrier 'Jack' sleeping it off.
Click on picture to see Video
Jack (our dog)
Playing with one of our cats
All of our kittens/cats
are used to Jack
"Fighting like Cats & Dogs"
?!?!?
Not so much!
5) Bengal Cats & Water
Bengal cats love to play with water
We all know cats hate water. But not Bengals! It’s amazing just how unafraid of and how interested they are in the water. As a breed of cat, they are unique in that way.
Do Bengal cats like to swim?
Wow, here’s an interesting question.
As mentioned, Bengals typically have no fear of water and tend to have an extreme fascination with it. But, does this mean they like to swim or even know how to swim? After all, the common domestic cat is typically terrified of water – let alone swimming. But what about that curious and playful Bengal cat?
Well, the answer to that is often yes, when introduced to an area they can swim on a gradient and on their own terms! Not only do Bengals know how to swim, they seem to absolutely love water. Pretty unusual for a cat, wouldn’t you say? But when you see a Bengal fascinated playing with your water faucet and wherever they find water, it may not be surprising to learn that Bengals often love to swim about any place you might allow them to. Just depends on the Bengal and given the exposure and time for them to come to grips with it on their own terms. As a note -
THEY HAVE WEBBED PAWS FOR SWIMMING!
Given a chance to explore the possibility, don't be surprised if they jump in a kitchen sink with water to play, into a wading pool, or even a swimming pool. Just take it on a gradient and let it be their idea.
Click/go to the link below for an intro-to-swimming video -
6) Genetic Disease
All breeds of cats are subject to Disease. With Bengals, the first 4 below are the major ones to be aware of. The first 2 are genetically transmitted. Through genetic samples sent to UC Davis (University of California Davis, USA) the parents of your kitten have been tested and confirmed they together will not transmit either of these genetic diseases to your kitten
(For Example: below find the 2 certifications for our King (Stud Cat) 'Nardoo Biggie'):
Your kitten comes with a 2 year Guarantee against developing either of these 2 genetic diseases (first 2 listed)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-b) This progressive genetic disorder (at Luminous Bengals your kittens 'parents' were screened for this) can ultimately lead to blindness in affected cats, and can begin to surface in kittens less than 2 months of age, or in adult cats as old as 12 years. Animals with the disease can be identified by an ophthalmologist, but blood and swab tests are available to determine if a particular animal is a carrier. Unfortunately, no treatment is available for this condition.
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKDef) is a genetic disorder (at Luminous Bengals your kittens 'parents' were screened for this) that results in hemolytic anemia, meaning that the cat’s red blood cells are destroyed before new ones are produced. Some cats may be plagued with clinical anemic symptoms, such as lethargy, while others will show no symptoms at all. The age of onset can be as young as 8 months, or as old as 8 years. There are blood and swab tests to determine if a cat is carrying the genetic mutation causing the disease.
Hycertropic Cardiomyioathy (HCM) is the most commonly diagnosed heart disease in cats, a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat's heart to thicken, decreasing the heart's efficiency and sometimes creating symptoms in other parts of the body.
(Feline Leukemia (FeLV) Leukemia in cats communicated with saliva or nose contact.
Feline Polyneuropathy - This is a very rare congenital condition in which the peripheral nerves controlling the muscles of the body have an abdominal coating, which results in poor control of the muscles. Affected animals may have trouble walking, eating, and doing other normal day-to-day activities. The age of onset is usually between 10 and 18 months, and males are affected more commonly than females.
Non-Responsive Diarrhea and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diarrhea This has many underlying causes, often making it challenging to both diagnose and treat. In some animals, it’s determined to be caused by a chronic inflammatory intestinal condition known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease and often requires lifelong therapy.
7) Rating 20 Bengal Character Traits
(Scale of 1 to 10)
A Bengal is NOT just a remarkably beautiful cat. They not only look totally different than other breeds of cats, their personality and behavior is totally different. This results mainly from a different genetic line outcrossed to a wild Asian Leopard cat and so different character traits than are found in all other domestic cats.
Here is a summary of some of the most important traits a cat can have, ranked for Bengals – when compared with most other breeds of cats (1 Low – 5 Average –10 High). The rating assumes a well-bred Bengal along with a very social rearing as a kitten (not in cages but in the home with people, other cats, dog, and lots of love and interaction, …). This is what you would find with kittens from Luminous Bengals.
Athletic --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Active – not - Lethargic ---------------------------- 10
Affectionate -------------------------------------------------------- 10
Non-Shedding ------------------------------------------------------- 10
Bonds with Owner ------------------------------------------ 10
Ease of Coat Maintenance --------------------- 10
Gorgeous ----------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Roset, Glittering Beautiful Coat --- 10
Playful ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10
Loves Water ---------------------------------------------------------- 10
Smart --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Good Hunters (Mousers, etc.) ----------- 10
Larger Size (4.5 Kg to 6 Kg) ------------------- 7
Likes to Climb ------------------------------------------------------- 10
Hypoallergenic ---------------------------------------------------- 10
Can be Trained ----------------------------------------------------- 10
Vet Visits – Does Well ----------------------------------- 2
Not Fussy About Food -------------------------------- 10
Children -------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Likes Petting ---------------------------------------------------------- 10
Lap-Cat --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Follows you around --------------------------------------- 9
Cleanliness (Uses Litter, ...)------------------ 10
Genetic Diseases ------------------------------------------------- 7*
Compatible with Dogs/Cats ------------------ 10
* See section on 'Genetic Disease' above
8) Markings
There are a number of different colors and marking patterns for Bengal cats. The traditional brown spotted Bengal is the one that most closely resembles the ALC (Asian Leopard Cat). These Bengal's black and brown Rosetta spots are set on a golden, tan, or orange variant shade body. There are also 'Snow Bengals' - white.
The spots should flow horizontally, and the greater the contrast between the spots and the brown color, the better. Also, the Rosettes should be a distinct 3 colors:
1) Background, 2) Outside part of the Rosette, 3) Inside part of the Rosette
We breed both Brown Bengals (shown above) and & Snow Bengals (pictured to right).
9) Bengal cats are remarkably Playful, Happy, Affectionate & Will Bond with you
Bengal cats purr all the time – they are just happy cats. Don't be surprised if one of the things they love to do is slide into your lap if you're busy on the computer or watching TV. Without realizing it, you look down and find your Bengal laying in your lap purring away (as just happened as I was writing this).
They are very loving & expressive cats, and will soon become your best friend. Typically bonding with one person, but loving all in the family and great with guests. Very definitely - NOT - your ordinary cat! Again, they really bond with you and become one of your best mates – always there for you! They are ACTIVE not only when they play but ACTIVE in their love for you!
To the left is our Bengal female - Luna, hanging out in my lap. I game/work late at night on my computer and oftentimes just look down and there is Luna in my lap – just appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Great stuff!
10) Happy, Playful, Affectionate & Remarkably Athletic
More than just a Gorgeous cat.
Bengals don't just lay around all day - indifferent to you.
They are Active, Happy, Affectionate, Playful & will Bond with you. Oh yea, add to that list of attributes - Ridiculously Athletic. Even in their gate (how they carry themselves walking around) - like an exotic, graceful & powerful jungle cat. In the picture to the left is our female now 'Queen' Bengal when she was only 9 months. WOW!
Direct their energy in positive ways: Toys (throw in 1 with catnip), toy puzzles, playing with them, a great & TALL cat tree, laser pointer, maybe a fountain water bowl for them to amuse themselves, play with and drink out of. Oh yeah, an occasional cardboard box, they love them. Put some warm water in a bathtub and throw in a few cat toys and see what happens. A scratching post & a cardboard scratching pad, a window to look out of and lay in some sunlight, take them for a walk on a leash (introduce the harness first and add the leash later) - LUMINOUS BENGAL KITTENS HAVE ALREADY HAVE THIS TRAINING AND ARE READY TO GO!, and maybe even another cat or dog to play with. The king of all toys is the feather wand pictured left. Just keep them supplied with some toys to play with along with - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - a cat tree (the taller the better) and they are good to go. But above all, play/fun time spent with you & your family. Ignoring your Bengal, no toys or other pets to play with = How you make a 'mischievous cat'.
As a note, Bengals make great lap-sleeping companions. Very cool.
Oddly having two Bengals can be no more work than having one, as they play with each other and burn up their energy, and are fun to watch. This is a recipe for fun and lots of exercise for your Bengal. Great for them if no one is home all day. As they bond with all in your family but mostly with one person, you make 2 kids or grownups super happy.
Bengals are very loyal and affectionate. They love to relax in your lap while you're watching TV or on your computer at the end of a long day. This "downtime" however, only occurs after some of their abundant energy has been exhausted. Bengals love water and high places (they need a high cat tree). They can enjoy the company of others, are very creative, and can also entertain themselves and you, playing with you and their toys. Because of their playful and loving nature, Bengals make great companions for children.
Living with a Bengal is like living with an exotic jungle cat, but with the sweet and loving disposition of a domestic cat (as a note – when they play with you they never extend their claws). Although there are general characteristics that most Bengals possess, each Bengal is unique and should be accepted for their individuality. Let your Bengal show you their specialty and you won't be disappointed!
ASK & Always choose a kitten from a breeder who raises kittens in their home (not cages) and handles/socializes them from an early age. Maybe not a bad idea to meet or see pictures of ideally both of your kitten's parents.
11) How Old Do Bengals Get?
You can expect your Bengal to live an average of 12 to 16 years old. Because of their natural high activity level, they stay active well into their adulthood more than other breeds. This is actually a big deal.
Just use good quality food, filtered water, proper vet care (along with worming & annual vaccinations), remove stress from their environment, provide a place for them to lie in the sunshine / look out the window & provide for constructive activity, play & loving care.
Purchasing your kitten from a reputable breeder who pays attention to temperament & shows them lots of attention and love as a kitten (in the breeder's home - free to roam as part of the family - NOT in cages) can go a long way in setting them up for a healthy & happy well-adjusted life as an adult and as your pet & best pal. Being able to do this is a good reason why we are and will stay - A smaller cattery.
13) Are Bengals Athletic?
There is the Bengal and then there are all other cat breeds.
Here I am with our female Bengal (only 9 months old!) 'Luna' demonstrating the remarkable athleticism of Bengals.
As they say - "Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. "
Just mind-boggling!
14) For people with Allergies – Good News!
A small percentage of the human population is “allergic” to cats. It is actually their hair complemented by shedding, that people are allergic to. Truth be told, there actually are some cat breeds that do exist that might be considered to be hypoallergenic or low allergy cats. This is mainly because these particular cats do produce fewer allergens than most other cats. Bengal cats happen to be on that small list of cats. First off, they don't have normal 'hair' - they have fur. And second, they don't shed (leastwise not any amount you will ever see - unless left outside in the winter and they will grow a winter coat - otherwise not).
If someone says they are allergic to cats, just tell them to “come on over” and far more often than not be very pleasantly surprised!
Once again, Bengal cats are not your ordinary cat.
15) Bengals Gorgeous & Low Maintenance Coat
Bengals have a unique brilliant & remarkably mink-like soft fur coat that actually glitters in direct light – a very beautiful effect of the shiny, soft fur-like coat – unique to Bengal cats.
Our experience is that there is NO maintenance and virtually NO noticeable shedding. A big deal if you have a somewhat busy lifestyle and value your time and a cat-hair-free appearance. You're in a suit and your Bengal jumps up into your lap before you go out - NO PROBLEM!
Basically, JUST no hair to clean off your clothes after you pick them up and put them on your lap or when dressed up ready to go out. There is really no noticeable cat hair to clean up around the house. Very different to most all other cats (and dogs for that matter).
16) Bengals Size
Bengals typically are larger than average household cats. Males run a bit larger & more muscular than females. Males weigh between 4.5 to 6.8kg. Females between 3.6 to 5.5kg
Late Blooming - Bengal cats are fully grown by the time they reach one and a half years old. Generally, Bengals are larger boned & slower-growing cats, which can sometimes make them appear the same size as regular cats of a similar age when younger on the way to fully grown and then surpassing them in size.
While remaining sleek & slim, Bengals tend to be muscular (considerably more so than any average cat). I think if you were a rat, the last cat in the world you would ever want to run into would be a Bengal (a bug too for that matter - they are fearless exterminators!).
17) Entertainment & Behavior
Bengals are a constant source of entertainment. Never know where, when, or how they'll show up next and what they're doing.
Our experience has been that Bengals are fundamentally NOT "mischievous". This trait is ensured with a safe & clean environment, access to lie in the sunshine, love, attention, positive reinforcement, toys, cat tree, playtime, and care they get.
How to make a mischievous poorly behaved Bengal (not easy to do): As a kitten and going forward, fail to socialize with humans, children, a dog and other cats. Or ignore them, provide no place for them to lie in the sun, fail to have the patience to direct/re-direct their activity in a positive direction - fail to have a scratching post & pad, nice cat tree, toys, their own nice bed - along with playtime/love & affection with you. It's not rocket science. I think you get the idea.
18) Remarkably Low Maintenance
Bengals give you a choice of Low maintenance instead of High maintenance.
- Virtually no shedding if kept indoors -
IF YOU ARE ACTIVE & WANT TO HAVE A LIFE - THIS CAN BE A VERY VERY BIG DEAL!
19) 5 Reasons to fall in love with Bengal Cats
ONCE & FOREVER
beauty
Bengal cats will embody the prestige and decoration of your home. It will always be a point of pride to show off a Bengal to your guests. You can admire their beauty, fascinating grace and movements, which boast only those of a wild beast.
Bengal cats have a gorgeous colour with characteristic contrasting spots called rosettes. Their fur is uniquely - AMAZINGLY silky soft to the touch, and in light can display a glitter that is just stunning and a sight to behold - you'll not find with any other breed of cat! It's surprising that their fur does not require any special care and you'll never find any noticeable shedding in your house or on your clothes. They are large-boned, muscled (especially mails) and strong while still being very elegant and amazingly agile in a very graceful way.
COMMUNITY AND LOYALTY TO THE HOST
With proper upbringing, Bengals have a very friendly temperament and love human companionship. Very sociable, they adapt well in a family, get along with cats/dogs, and love to play with children! They often bond very closely with one person.
They are calm/friendly with guests but can be watchful because they are really attached to the ones they bond with. And in this matter, Bengals can demonstrate a truly dog-like devotion/instinct!
STRENGTH
These are muscular large boned cats of athletic build, sleek, deft and fast. Just tremendously athletic. Natural/excellent hunters through and through, able to patiently track down prey, jump high and quickly climb trees. Therefore, if you are concerned about rodents or even insects, with the advent of your Bengal in the house, this problem will be solved by itself.
Bengal cats inherited agility and a special, unique and beautiful easily recognizable gait from their wild Southeast Asian ancestors. The jaws of Bengals are well adapted to rough food, so the food for them will not have to be processed and mashed in some special way. We sometimes give our Bengals chicken frames and they chew up bones like they were nothing. Just part of their natural & healthy diet.
MIND
These are very intelligent animals, capable of making their own decisions. They can study the actions of people and try to repeat them, for example, open doors. Bengals are easy to train. You can teach a cat to bring a ball, play hide-and-seek, table tennis, ...! Also, Bengals quickly get used to their name and gladly respond to it. It seems that their passive vocabulary is much bigger than other breeds of domestic cats! Any Bengal is able to follow the basic commands - "Come!", "Stop!", "Wait!", "Fetch!" and others. Therefore, having such a cat, you can have a companion for conversations and games.
VITALITY
Bengals are excellent hunters, with some even becoming adept anglers! These cats can safely swim in a pool or pond. They just can surprise you with their being up for some fun and a good time. And as mentioned before, ridiculously athletic and playful. With such a friend you're not likely to get bored any time soon. To the right is our 9-month-old female 'Luna' - AMAZING athleticism.
Bengals will be excellent companions during trips and walks on a lead. And even adult cats remain very energetic and ready for a good time for a long time!
