About the Bengals
Bengal cats are the biggest dream for cat lovers, as in addition to their beauty, they are domestic animals with an appearance that imitates the big cats found in nature.
Main features
It is medium in size, with a normal weight of between 3.5 and 8.0kg as a normal reference. Bengals larger than the reference are rare and are often related to health problems.
It has a small head in relation to the body, with well-defined and rounded lines, large cheeks, forward chin, wide nose, small and rounded ears, slightly larger and longer tail when compared to other breeds of cats.
History
The Bengal is a hybrid breed, resulting from the crossing between a wild feline, the Asian Leopard, (ALC - Asian Leopard Cat, [Prionailurus bengalensis or Felis bengalensis]) with a domestic cat.
Curiosities
According to some reports, the purpose of creating domestic cats with an appearance that resembled wild felines was a way of trying to contain the fur market, since the fact that there were cats with fur similar to wild felines could cause interest in fur to diminish. fur, in addition to reducing the illegal trade in animals at risk of extinction.
What are the main features of Bengal cats?
History and Characteristics of the Bengal Breed
“It is medium in size, with a normal weight of between 3.5 and 8.0 kg as a normal reference. Bengals larger than the reference are rare and are often related to health problems”
When you see a wild feline on television, or in videos on the internet, and you want to get up close, caress and hug, these are signs that you need to meet a Bengal cat. Thanks to great genetic work, the dream of having a leopard or ocelot at home, being able to hug, caress and play, became reality.
In addition to the Bengal having an extremely exotic appearance, when coming from good selection and genetic quality, it has a very active and curious temperament, likes to be around people, making it the ideal company for the whole family and other domestic animals.
Its long, muscular body with spots and rosettes makes it similar to the leopard and the jaguar, respectively.
The Bengal definitely looks different from other domestic cats and even looks like a small ocelot or wild cat, but several genetic lineages are extremely intelligent and companionable, with a reputation for behavior that makes them the cat that most resembles a cat. dog!
Main Features
It has a small head in relation to the body, with well-defined and rounded lines, large cheeks, chin forward, wide nose, small and rounded ears, tail slightly larger and longer when compared to other breeds of cats.
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Size/Weight: They are considered MEDIUM size. As adults, the normal considerable standard is for males to weigh between 4.0 and 8.0 kg, and females between 3.5 and 6.0 kg. Any size outside these standards is considered rare and often brings associated health problems.
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Coloring/Pattern:There is a wide variation in colors, which are observed in two different coat patterns. The best known and most sought after pattern is the Spotted (those with spots like a leopard or jaguar), while the other is the Marbled (those that do not have spots, have more solid colors, similar to a marble). Within each of these two patterns there are three colors recognized by the International Feline Federation (FIFe), Brown/Black (the color that resembles a leopard or jaguar, with bright orange to beige tones), Silver and Snow. There are other colors such as Blue, Melanistico and Chacoal that are not recognized by FIFe, and the continuation of these genetic lines is not recommended.
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Coat:Short and soft, exclusively from Glitter. Bengal is the only cat to have the impressive Glitter in its coat. Learn more by reading our “TomiFerr Bengals Breed Standard” guide.
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Eyes:It will depend on the coat color, in the best known (Brown/Black) the eye colors must be golden or greenish. It is important to highlight that the greenish color is an inheritance of the domestic cat, while the gold color of the leopard, therefore breeders who prioritize the genetic development of the breed, will have a greater tendency and preference for golden eyes, while breeders with commercial objectives will have a preference for eyes. greens. A Snow colored Bengal may have aqua green eyes or, in some variations, blue eyes.
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Life expectancy:Life expectancy: 10 to 20 years.
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Temperament:When coming from good selection and genetic origin, they are hyperactive, very affectionate, playful, like children, other cats and dogs, are attached to their owner and do not like to be alone.
Historical Origin of Bengal
The Bengal is a hybrid breed, resulting from the crossing between a wild feline, the Asian Leopard, (ALC - Asian Leopard Cat, [Prionailurus bengalensis or Felis bengalensis]) with a domestic cat.
In 1963, psychologist and geneticist Jean Sudgen Mill, when placing a domestic cat with a female Asian Leopard, was surprised to see a litter of two hybrid puppies born. The male did not survive, but the female, named Kinkin, was the first hybrid specimen (F1) resulting from this type of crossing.
The first three generations arising from crosses of Asian Leopards and domestic cats, are called foundation Bengals (Early Generation Bengals, or EG's), and are these:
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F1 (G1) - specimens born from a cross between the ALC and a cat
Domestic.
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F2 (G2) - specimens resulting from the crossing between an F1 and a cat
Domestic.
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F3 (G3) - specimens born from the cross between an F2 and a domestic cat.
First generation males are always sterile, with sterility observed in second and third generation males. These can also be fertile for a short period of time or even have alternating fertility. Females from the first three generations (F1, F2 and F3) are normally fertile, but it has been observed that females from the second generation (F2) are less fertile than females from the first (F1) and third generations (F3).
The Bengal was only really considered a Bengal from the generation of puppies from an F3, popularly called F4.
Over the years, several geneticists and important serious and ethical breeders carried out genetic development and improvement, together creating the desirable standard of the breed.
The work resulted, in some genetic lines, in the elimination of diseases, considerable improvement in temperament and a more beautiful and modern coat, with the presence of rosettes instead of just spots.
In Brazil, the Bengal breed was introduced in 1995, where over the years it became popular, and in recent years some breeders have sought lineages with modern standards, improving the breed's standard, standing out in beauty competitions around the world. ;
TomiFerr Bengals is a reference in genetic development (health, temperament and beauty), prioritizing modernization within the standard, does not condone breeding that introduces initial lineages (EG's), does not carry out screening for genetic diseases and selection in relation to temperament and standard. “Introducing an early bloodline Bengal into our breeding is the same as going back to 1963.”
Curiosities
According to some reports, the purpose of creating domestic cats with an appearance that resembled wild felines was a way of trying to contain the fur market, since the fact that there were cats with fur similar to wild felines could cause interest in fur to diminish. fur, in addition to reducing the illegal trade in animals at risk of extinction.
In the 70s, Dr. Willard Centerwall carried out new hybridization research between domestic cats and Asian Leopards, the purpose was to find the gene responsible for immunity to feline leukemia, since Asian leopards do not acquire this lethal disease, which is so common to other species. felines, but Dr.Centerwall suspended research and donated some females from the first generation (F1) to Mrs.Jean Mill, who continued to work on the breed.
Text prepared through research by Edevar Tomiozzo Júnior and Maíra Ferrarin, owners of TomiFerr Bengals. Unauthorized use or copying is not permitted, and disclosure is permitted as long as the source is cited: TomiFerr Bengals
Bengal cats are the biggest dream for cat lovers, as in addition to their beauty, they are domestic animals with an appearance that imitates the big cats found in nature.
The Bengal breed has a variety of desirable patterns, colors, tones and characteristics. In order for a breed not to become extinct, it is necessary to highlight the importance of International Federations and breeders whose objective is genetic development, which preserve all the characteristics determined and described for the breed.
In this exclusive TomiFerr Genetics Feline (TomiFerr Bengals) article, the patterns and colors accepted and described by the International Feline Federation (FIFe), of which we are members through the Brazilian Feline Federation (FFB), will be discussed.
The Bengal's coat with spots/rosettes (Spotted) in golden/orange color, similar to the leopard/jaguar is popularly the best known, however it is not the only color and pattern accepted for this breed.
The Bengal is more than a small domestic version of its larger jungle cousins. There is a wide variation of patterns, colors and shades within the breed, many already recognized and some not recognized by the FIFe.
Depending on the parents' genes, Bengals from the same litter can be very different from each other. Genome mapping allows genes that control pattern and color to be easily identified and predicted during reproduction. Some other characteristics depend on further observations and studies and can be identified with DNA tests. The importance of eliminating genetic diseases is highlighted, which must be prevented by breeders, through DNA tests, so that they do not become an integral part of the breed. Read about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Pyruvate Kinase Enzyme Deficiency (PKDef) and Progressive Bengal Retinal Atrophy (PRA-b).
