The Bengal Cat's Coat

The spotted variety of the Bengal can take on many differences in patterns. A spotted Bengal (top) can have a solid spot of one color, or we can have a rosetted Bengal (bottom). A rosetted Bengal is still spotted, but the spots have two colors to them. Usually there is a dark spot of either brown or black, and then a kind of rust or orange shading inside or around the spot, creating a "ROSETTE" like you would see on a wild cat like a jaguar.

Often times you will hear breeders refer to a clear or a ticked coat. A clear coat (top) is when there is a dramatic difference between the spotting pattern and the background. The spots are very dark in color and the background color does not compete with the spots. Some cats have what we call "GLITTER", and this is when the hair tip is hollow, and reflects light, making the cat look as if it was dusted with golden specks throughout the hair. A ticked coat (bottom) is when the hair tips are whitish, and this white tipping on the pattern makes it seem to fade into the background color.

Bengal kittens go through a stage we call the "FUZZIES". This is a type of camouflage, as you would see on wild cats babies. The fuzzy stage can begin as early as four weeks, and last until the kitten is over twelve weeks. When in the fuzzies (top), the kittens coat can become very thick and bushy, and get ticked and dull in color. But...once they are out of this stage (bottom), a baby Bengal gets brighter in color, and darker in the pattern. It can take up to a full year for all the rich colors to come into a Bengal coat.

Marble baby Bengals (top) are born mostly two colors. The pattern areas are a very solid dark area. But, as the baby grows and matures (bottom), the pattern "FALLS OUT". What this means is that the outline of the dark areas remain, but the inside seems to lighten up and change to a gorgeous rich third color separate from the outlining and the background.

Bengals can sometimes be born with a long haired coat. Because of the use of domestic "street" cats in the early breeding of Bengal Cats, longhaired recessives can "pop" up if you match a male and female who both carry for longhair. The coat is long around the neck (mane), the tail and the belly, and remains shorter on the back and shoulders. Very similar in coat to a Maine Coon.

The Bengal Cat's Character

The BENGAL resulted from a breeders efforts  in 1963 to help save endangered wild cats (then available for sale in pets shops) by creating a domestic version cat lovers could have at home. Jean Mill of Millwood cattery,CA crossed a wild female Asian Leopard Cat  (Prionailurus bengalensis) with a shorthaired male domestic cat & this marked the beginning of the breed known today as the BENGAL.

Through selective breeding, ABUNDADOTS BENGALS possess incredible temperaments. Affectionate and inquisitive, these cats want to be with you at all times! At ABUNDADOTS BENGALS, we spend a lot  of time with our kittens as they grow up, and all  live in the house with us. We feel that early socialization is important for kittens and creates a strong bonding instinct to people, and most BENGALS that are treated with love and kindness crave human contact.

A BENGAL'S call is unique, and often they growl when upset rather than hissing. BENGALS are not an overly vocal cat, crying for unknown reasons, but they will chatter back when you talk to them. Kittens often growl at their toys, and make funny "yum, yum, yum" sounds when they eat! BENGALS will often jump in the tub or shower with you and retain a love of water, just as their wild ancestors do. They can learn to play fetch,  walk on a harness and leash, retrieve small toys, and will often carry objects in their front paws.