Bengal Cat For Sale

Not to be mistaken for Bengal tigers, Bengal cats were developed by cross-breeding an Asian leopard cat and a domestic shorthair cat. Until about sixty years ago, Asian leopards could be purchased at your neighborhood pet store. A cat owner in California kept a female Asian leopard with a male domestic cat, assuming that they could not breed. She was wrong…the Asian leopard gave birth to a litter of spotted kittens and the first Bengal hybrids were born. The unique spotting on a Bengal cats' coat gives them an exotic and wild look that appeals to many cat owners. Bengals are large cats, weighing between 8 and 15 pounds on average. They are active and vocal animals, too.

Bengal Cat

Housing a Bengal

Bengal cats can be housed like any domesticated cat, meaning they can be allowed free range of the owner's house. It is advised that they be exclusively indoor cats as they may contract diseases from interacting with stray cats in the neighborhood.

What does a Bengal Cat Eat?

Because they are a mix between the Asian leopard cat and a domestic breed, the Bengal has slightly different dietary needs than an average house cat. Cat food that is high in protein is optimal, but because most commercial cat food contains more carbohydrate fillers like soy, rice, and corn and less meat products, health issues can occur. Protein should make up about 50% to 80% of the animal's diet, so if the cat food is not adequately satisfying this need; raw meat can be used as a supplement. It is important that the meat is fresh and not processed.

Enrichment for a Bengal Cat

Bengal cats are very active and alert. They like to play and can learn games like fetch or figure out puzzle toys. Unlike most house cats, they like water and may jump into a bathtub or pond or pool for a swim. If they are bored, they might adopt some destructive habits, like fishing in the aquarium or turning on light switches. Bengals also like to climb and would benefit from a tall cat tree with ledges from which to survey their surroundings.

Breeding Bengal Cats

Female Bengals reach sexual maturity at around eight months old, while males mature at between ten and sixteen months. Ideally, the female Bengal cat should be at least one year old and have had a few heat cycles before she is breed. The gestation period for Bengal cats is approximately 63 days. Because they are considered an exotic breed, the litter size of Bengal cats is often smaller than domestic house cats. Litter sizes average between two and five kittens.