|
|
| |
This site last updated March 17, 2008.
| |
 Kittens Are Here!
Bengals are hybrids created by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat, a small jungle-dwelling wild cat, with domestic cats such as the Egyptian Mau, Abyssinian, Burmese, and, more recently, the American Shorthair. A Bengal is considered domestic, or SBT (stud book tradition), once it is at least four generations away from the ALC ancestor. SBT Bengals are loving and devoted companions. They enjoy people tremendously; some say they are more like dogs than cats! They have remarkably stable temperaments, probably because early developers of the breed insisted on breeding for personality as well as looks. And, speaking of personality, Bengals are bubbling over with it - they love to jump, dabble in water, fetch a ball, or simply nestle on your shoulder. Bengals can jump over five feet when an enticing toy inspires them!
SBT Bengals do not behave like wildcats - not in any negative sense of the word. They have retained the prowess and intelligence of the ALC, yet they have the loving and affectionate nature of a domestic cat. Bengals are not destructive! In fact, their alert intelligence allows them to be unusually responsive to training. Hence, all the testimony from Bengal owners of their cats walking with a harness and leash, enthusiastically jumping hurdles in agility contests, fetching on command…the list is only limited by gravity and your imagination!
 When we first discovered Bengals, we weren't sure what to expect. So, with some trepidation, we brought Juno (our beloved first) home. Well, to make a long story short, today Juno (plus our other Bengals) can be found piled on ours laps or cuddling against our necks at any given time of the day or night.
An important point: Do not expect your Bengal to do any certain trick. Bengals are individuals; that is part of their charm. For instance, some will dive in the bathtub with you, while others prefer to daintily dip their paws under a running faucet. Like people, each Bengal is unique, complete with his or her own special traits.
In short, we love these wonderful, quirky cats; and, looking back, we can't imagine how boring our lives were without them!
|
