The Bengal is achieved by crossing an Asian Leopard cat (ALC) with a domestic cat. The resulting cat is called an F1 and the offspring from the F1 will be called F2. These cats are known as the foundation generations for the breed. The F is for foundation and the numbers used lets you know how many generations removed from the ALC your cat is. With any hybrid cross resulting from the breeding of a wild cat to a domestic cat, the males are almost always sterile until the 4th-5th generation. This is why there are a variety of domestic male cats used in breeding programs to create the early generation Bengal’s. Some male cats that are being used in the early generations include British Shorthair, Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Abyssinian and Bombay. The Bengal is still a relatively new breed but it gives people the option of owning an amazingly beautiful and friendly domestic cat, with the looks of a wild ALC. Unlike an ALC your cat will be smaller, content as an indoor cat and able to use a litter box. A SBT Bengal is one that is bred down from the ALC but is at least 4 Generations removed.  Your domestic Bengal will be just as stunning and incredibly patterned as the wild ALC but it will behave exactly like a domesticated cat.

The Bengal is a medium/large sized cat with the males being larger than the females. They are well muscled and long. Their pelt/coat is amazing and feels very plush and smooth like rich velvet or silk. Some also have glitter on their pelt which is incredible beautiful when it catches the light. There is also little shedding with this kind of coat which can mean that they can be more suitable for allergy sufferers. They came in a variety of colours and patterns some accepted for show (some not at the moment). These include the two main patterns spotted/rosetted and marble. Colours include brown, blue eyed snow, any other colour snow and silver.

 They are very athletic and love to play. Bengal cats are also incredibly friendly and will follow you around. It is often thought that they are almost like dogs because of the amount of interaction they love with their owners. They can be taught to walk on a lead, play catch and fetch and one of our girls can also open our living room door when she stands on the sofa. Our Bengal cats are fascinated by water and they can all be found in the bathroom once they hear the sink or bath water running.