Bengal
Developed from crosses with the Asian leopard cat. The rosettes — two-toned spots with a darker outline — are what separate it from an ordinary spotted tabby, which has plain solid spots.
- Coat
- Short
- Build
- Large and rectangular
- Head
- Wedge
- Weight
- 4–7 kg
- Origin
- United States
What it looks like
Long, muscular and athletic with a short dense coat marked in rosettes or marbling, often with a distinctive glitter, and a small head relative to the body.
The characters that confirm it
- Rosetted spots: two-toned, with a darker outline around a warmer centre. Plain spots are a spotted tabby.
- A glittered coat — individual hairs with translucent tips, catching the light.
- Long, muscular body with hindquarters slightly higher than the shoulders.
- A small head in proportion to a large body.
Temperament
Extremely active, vocal, water-loving and demanding. Not a low-effort cat.
Health
Progressive retinal atrophy and pyruvate kinase deficiency both have genetic tests. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs. Early-generation hybrids are restricted or banned in several jurisdictions — check local law before acquiring one.
Confused with
Most spotted cats are spotted tabbies. Without rosettes and the long muscular build, it is a moggy.
Taller and leggier still, with a much longer neck and solid rather than rosetted spots.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Bengal?
Rosetted spots: two-toned, with a darker outline around a warmer centre. Plain spots are a spotted tabby. A glittered coat — individual hairs with translucent tips, catching the light.
What is a Bengal like to live with?
Extremely active, vocal, water-loving and demanding. Not a low-effort cat.
What health problems do Bengals have?
Progressive retinal atrophy and pyruvate kinase deficiency both have genetic tests. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs. Early-generation hybrids are restricted or banned in several jurisdictions — check local law before acquiring one.