Bengal Cat Breed Profile

Coat Type, Color & Grooming: The Bengal's most defining characteristic is its spotted or marbled coat with thick, pelt-like fur. In spotted Bengals, the spots appear randomly or in horizontal patterns and stand out in extreme contrast to the background color, which may be a bright shade of tan, gold, or mahogany. Marbled cats have horizontal stripes arranged randomly, like waves of color running through a piece of lighter-colored marble.

Physical Attributes: The Bengal is a medium to large cat with a head that is longer than it is wide. It is bred to retain its wild appearance: sleek, long, and muscular, with the hindquarters slightly higher than the shoulders. The black-tipped tail is carried low. The Bengal has short, rounded ears; oval, wide-set eyes; prominent whisker pads; and rounder nostrils than other domestic cats.

Personality: Bengals are intelligent, friendly, assertive, and active cats. Some like to retrieve objects, and many have a fondness for climbing and playing in water. They also enjoy cat-and-mouse games and will find their own toys if none are provided. Their voices are sometimes rather wild-sounding.