My cat is a Bengal? How to distinguish a Bengal cat from others

Unique and unpredictable mestizos

Metis is the result of crossing cats of different breeds. Or outbreds. In general, any cats without a pedigree are called mestizos. They inherit the best qualities of their parents: endurance, intelligence, health. Among the mestizos, no two cats are alike. Each of them has a unique appearance. What purebred representatives of cat breeds cannot boast of.

Metis are the most common cat breed on earth.

Mestizos are very diverse. It is possible to predict the temperament and appearance of a cat only if it was born in a nursery or at home and the parents are known. The kitten inherits behavioral patterns from its father and mother. The character of mestizos depends on their upbringing and habitat. Life experience is what shapes the personality of a half-breed. If a mixed breed of an elite breed is raised and nurtured as an aristocrat, he will exhibit traits inherent in the breed. And when a cat has to fight for his life, all manifestations of character will be aimed at survival.

The history of cohabitation between humans and cats goes back more than 10 thousand years. In ancient times, cats were not distinguished into separate breeds. Depending on the region of residence, climate, and nutrition, they had different appearance and character traits. Later, with the development of navigation, it became possible to mate cats from different regions. Then the first mestizos appeared.

Felinologists were divided into two camps. Some breeders do not recognize mestizos as full-fledged cats and mercilessly cull them. Others, on the contrary, consider mixed cats smarter, more educated, more resilient than purebred cats and endowed with properties unattainable for aristocrats.

Mixed breeds do not meet breed standards, so they are not sold. Or they charge a symbolic price. A gifted kitten is believed to bring good luck.

Care and maintenance

To properly care for a mestizo, you need to know from which parents he was born. If several varieties of purebred genes are mixed in the kitten’s blood, then the best adviser on keeping the animal will be the breeder, who will tell you what nuances you need to pay attention to.

The cat is drooling: the main causes and treatment options

If the animals do not require special care, then standard procedures are carried out:

• inspect for fleas;
• get rid of all parasites;
• get vaccinated;
• carry out sterilization.

Cats have their teeth and ears cleaned and their fur combed once every 10-14 days. Bath felines if necessary.

Additional information: Cats can suffer from a variety of infectious diseases. The most dangerous are: rabies, feline distemper, calcivirus, coronaviruses.

The appearance of vomiting, diarrhea, and ulcers on the body should be an immediate reason to contact a veterinary hospital.

Hybrid kittens of the Russian blue breed

Mestizo nutrition

Animals are not fed what humans eat. The dishes may contain products, the excess of which will be harmful to animals. It is rational to use special food for cats that contains the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements necessary for animals. Boiled meat, fish, vegetables, and low-fat milk are added to them. Cats should not be given sweets, smoked or salty foods.

Water is an integral part of food for animals. It must be clean, non-chlorinated. It is better to use drinking purified water. The dishes from which cats eat should always be thoroughly washed, and they should be boiled or disinfected at least once a week.

Recently, cat breeds have changed a lot, so the appearance of all kinds of crossbreeds has become commonplace. Some of them have body features and coat color that have become very exotic and unusual. Those who like to modify animals should always remember that animals are loved not so much for their appearance, but for their gentle purring and unobtrusive presence.

Diversity of mestizos

All felinological associations prohibit mating between breeds. Each species has distinctive characteristics that disappear during uncontrolled reproduction. Belonging to a particular breed is determined by genotype and phenotype. That is, according to the set of genes inherited from the parents and external characteristics (body size, color, coat length, skull structure).

Maine Coon mixes

Officially, breeding Mei-Coon mixes is prohibited. In fact, there is no control over cat lovers. Unscrupulous owners cross Maine Coons with other breeds or ordinary cats. As a rule, culled individuals participate in such breeding. Serious breeders do not allow such animals to mate. Owners who purchase “defective” animals from nurseries are required to castrate or sterilize them. Large fluffy kittens are sometimes offered under the guise of purebred Maine Coons. Dishonest owners try to sell them inexpensively, explaining the discount for various reasons.

Maine Coon and Siberian cat mixes can be very beautiful

A purebred Maine Coon is expensive. Wanting to save money, cat lovers buy Maine Coon mixes in the hope that they will inherit the qualities of a purebred animal. Distinctive character traits of Maine Coon cats are:

• sociability, goodwill towards people, friendliness;
• calmness, balance;
• self-esteem;
• absence of pronounced aggressive habits;
• high level of intelligence.

In fact, a Maine Coon mixed breed cat and a purebred cat are completely different cats. Breeders worked for several decades to create and consolidate the original characteristics of the breed. Not a single mestizo will fully comply with the standards of behavior. It is impossible to predict what the character of a mature cat will be. As a result of illiterate crossbreeding, aggression may appear and poor health may occur.

British cat mixes

Uncontrolled crossing of the British cat with the Scottish Fold almost led to the degeneration of both breeds

Not everything is so simple with English cats. First of all, do not confuse the British Shorthair and the Scottish Fold. The breeds are related, but completely different. Scottish Folds (Scots) are descended from the British as a result of mutation of the ears. Strictly speaking, these are mestizos from crossing fold-eared cats with British ones. It took more than half a century for the Scottish Fold to gain independent status from a spontaneous breed.

In 2004, a ban was introduced on the crossing of Scottish Fold and British cats.

The appearance of a huge number of mestizos when crossing the British and Scots led to the gradual degeneration of both breeds. In 2004, a law was passed banning their mixing. For the same reason, in 2003 it was prohibited to cross Persian and British cats.

Mixed bengal cat

The Bengal cat is a mestizo who has become an aristocracy. This is a cross between a domestic and Asian leopard cat. To stop the barbaric export of exotic Bengals from their historical homeland, enthusiasts bred a stable breed with a wild appearance and gentle character.

Crossing Bengal cats with other breeds is prohibited by all felinological associations . Therefore, there are no officially recognized mestizos of this breed. That doesn’t stop owners who aren’t too scrupulous from pairing Bengals with other cats. As a result, smaller mixed breeds with inappropriate colors appear. The second generation completely loses the characteristics of the breed.

As a result of crossing the Bengal cat with other breeds, the characteristics of the breed are lost

Recently, the long-haired Bengal has been gaining popularity. With all the characteristics of the breed, they have long hair, a fluffy tail and a collar.

If earlier, in order to avoid damage to the breed, breeders of such kittens sterilized, now a long-haired Bengal cat is valued more than a traditional Bengal.

Persian cat mixes

Persians are considered the most common cat breed in the world. And in terms of the number of colors they have no equal. It is not surprising that there are a huge number of Persian cat mixes. The Persian-British hybrid has become widespread. A crossbreed with an ordinary domestic cat is often found. Among connoisseurs, mixed breeds of Scottish Fold (Scottish Fold) and Persian are valued.

Persian cats are used as a basis for developing new breeds

Persians are the progenitors of many cat breeds. The exotic cat is very popular. In appearance it is a Persian with short hair. Breeders do not stop there. Taking the Persian breed as a basis, they gave the world such cats as:

• Napoleon (a cross between a Persian and a Menchkin with short legs);
• Himalayan (Persian with Siamese coloring);
• Cherub (curly-haired Selkirk Rex with a Persian face);
• Tiffany (a hybrid with the Burmese breed, which has obtained unusually soft, silky wool);
• Iranian cat and Tonkaline (hybrids bred by adding genes of the Tonka breed);
• Alaskan snow cat (alliance of Somalia and White Persians).

And these are just some of the derived cat breeds.

Interspecific crossing, as a rule, does not affect the health of mixed offspring. However, there is a risk of genetic diseases.

Mixed Breeds

The Nibelung is a cross between a long-haired cat and a Russian Blue. The Nibelung's coat is soft and long. The color is only gray-blue. To produce offspring with short hair, Nibelungs are mixed with short-haired cats.

The color point color is characteristic of Siamese and Thai cats. He is dominant. To obtain it, Thais and Siamese were brought together with different cats. So, for example, we got the Neva Masquerade - a cross between a Siamese and a Siberian cat.

Price and nurseries

Abyssinian and Bengal kittens for sale are not uncommon these days; there are plenty of nurseries dealing with both breeds in Russia. Show-class kittens, which will have a show career and several years of breeding, will cost much more than kittens purchased as pets - this is true for both breeds. The price tag for the best representatives of the Abyssinian and Bengal breeds starts from $700 (about 45,000 rubles). On average, Bengal kittens are more expensive than Abyssinian kittens; the price for a show-class kitten can reach $4,000 (255,000 rubles).

Sometimes nurseries offer for purchase kittens with minor color defects: residual stripes in Abyssinians or insufficiently high-quality rosettes in Bengals - the price for such kittens is reduced. It is also often possible to buy adult individuals bred from breeding for a symbolic amount - by purchasing such cats, you can save a lot, and at the same time you will have a young, healthy, pedigree animal.

We wrote about how and where to buy an Abyssinian kitten in this article.

Tested by cats

Having extensive experience in keeping cats of different breeds, I can confidently say that mixed breeds navigate dangerous situations much faster than purebred cats. Especially on the edge of life and death. Under these conditions, the natural instincts inherent in the genes awaken in half-breed mestizos. Elite mestizos activate the best survival mechanisms inherent in breeds.

There were two cats in our apartment at the same time - a purebred Persian and a cross between a Siberian cat and an ordinary domestic cat. The aristocratic Persian cat, despite his arrogant and proud disposition, unconditionally recognized the primacy of the Siberian Timokha. Although he was larger and two years older. Never approached the food bowl first. He allowed himself to be bathed only after he saw with what pleasure his Siberian brother took water procedures. Both cats were long-haired and required constant care. If the mestizo Timofey endured the combing process patiently and calmly, then in order to comb the elite Persian, he had to wrap his hands in a terry towel to avoid injuries from teeth and claws.

The diet was also significantly different. The Siberian mixed breed was an omnivore; there were no problems with feeding it. We had to develop a special menu for the Persian, taking into account the cat’s food preferences and the advice of the veterinarian.

Now I have a mixed breed of Maine Coon and an ordinary cat. Fluffy philosopher and intellectual fighter. I believe that interspecific crossing, especially spontaneous or illiterate, weakens and worsens the genotype. To obtain hardy, healthy and intelligent offspring, a rush of “wild” blood is necessary.

What else is unique about Bengal cats?

Along with the specific patterns we've discussed for spotted and marbled cats, there are other differences unique to Bengals that may help you if you're still unsure...

One of the most beautiful unique characteristics of the Bengal cat is the shine (or glitter) of its coat . It looks so elegant, but is so hard to capture in a photo!

The golden glow of a brown Bengal or the effect of pearl dust on a Bengal's light fur must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Here's a photo showing the glitter effect:

glitter on a bengal cat

There are other aspects of the Bengal's coat that are also unique - it is often said that you can identify a Bengal cat by touching it while blindfolded. Some find the best way to describe the Bengal's fur is that it is more pelt-like than fur-like, with its satin or silk feel while being short and plush.

The normal tabby cat's fur often "ticks" whereas a Bengal's should not - the ticking is where each strand of hair is broken up into different stripes of color.

Besides the fur and wool, which we have focused a lot on, there are other characteristics of the Bengal breed that, when you put them all together, make Bengals a uniquely beautiful cat.

The Bengal's body is large, slender and muscular, with strong bones. Its hind legs are slightly longer than its front legs, reminiscent of their wild ancestors. The head is relatively small in relation to the body with medium to small ears. The Bengal's tail is thick and can be ringed, spotted or marbled, but should always have a dark colored tip. The chin should be light and the mustache should be prominent. The nose is large and wide.

Even the Bengal's voice is different from most other cats. You probably know if you have a Bengal cat in your neighborhood because Bengals often loudly remind their owners about it throughout the day!

Choosing a mixed-breed cat

Every cat is unique. But experts believe that by external signs - the shape of the skull, body structure, color and length of fur - it is possible to predict the character traits of a pet from a very young age. And even a predisposition to disease. Mixed breeds of elite cats inherit from their parents the appearance and behavior pattern characteristic of a particular breed. When choosing a mestizo, you should pay attention to the main phenotypes. Try to determine from them what character the cat will have and its future health problems.

"Marquise" phenotype

Short, black fur with white spots. The body constitution of cats is dense, while that of cats is thin. This phenotype is characteristic of short-haired European breeds. These pets have a stable, predictable character. They demonstrate their desires quite clearly. They try to manage the house and achieve their goal with affection or perseverance. They have good health. With poor nutrition, urolithiasis can develop.

Phenotype "Siberian cat"

The color is gray-striped. The coat is long with a thick undercoat. The body is loose or dense. The head is large, round, with a protruding muzzle. Confident, independent character. These animals are “on their own.” They skillfully put the owners in the desired place and show who is boss in the house. They accept affection solely of their own free will. They don't like it when they are bothered with attention. May experience digestive problems. Suffer from obesity, diabetes, urolithiasis,

Angora cat phenotype

Long or semi-long light coat. Dry, tender body. Elegant, light head. Having an independent disposition, they show miracles of devotion and trust in the owner. Sensing the weakness of the owner, they can show “savagery” and aggressiveness, defending themselves and protecting the territory. They need daily human contact. The owner is expected to be predictable and stable. Health is good. Problems with respiratory function and infections are possible.

"British" phenotype

The coat is dense and short. The head is round, large, with erect ears. The body structure is rough and dense. Tabby and blue-gray color. The tail is thick, with transverse stripes. Independent character. Showing displeasure, they can be stubborn and aggressive. These cats are not easy to handle. Touching is allowed, guided solely by one’s own mood. They often become “masters of masters.” Like all cats with a rough constitution, they have a tendency to chronic kidney diseases and obesity. And also, endocrine system disorders and chronic pancreatitis.

Phenotype "Persian cat"

The coat is long, silky, without coarse guard hairs. The head is round, the nose is flattened. The body constitution is rough or loose. They have an independent character and position themselves as a decoration for the home. They can be capricious and demanding. Persians and mestizos are often cut like a lion. Since long hair needs to be combed, and Persians do not like this procedure. Predisposed to diseases of the genitourinary system and upper respiratory tract.

Phenotype "oriental cat"

A cat with short, delicate fur. Thin, dense skeleton with developed muscles. The body is elongated. Quite heavy with an elegant appearance. Light, graceful head. Large or medium movable ears. The color is varied: spotted, solid, striped, color-point, tabby and others. Due to their focus on the owner and the need for constant communication, they are called “cat-dogs”. Orientals have irrepressible energy. Need active games. If energy is not used, obesity may begin. They strive to restore order in the house. Health is quite good. They may have digestive problems and infections.

Phenotype "Thai cat"

Semi-long or short coat of characteristic colors: blue point, seal point, lilac tabby point, lilac point. The head is round. Eye color is blue. Strong, graceful cats with a dense, but not coarse constitution. The character is even, non-conflicting. The behavior model is close to that of a dog. They need constant contact with the owner. They are acutely aware of his mood swings. Empathizing with the problems of the owners, they can get sick. They are very persistent in achieving their goals. They achieve their goals not through arrogance and aggression, but through persistence and affection. Health is quite good, but they are susceptible to urolithiasis and slow infections.

Taking into account the external signs of the pet, it is possible to predict the future character and behavioral model. Take measures for proper education and prevent possible diseases.

Best cat and color

It is not entirely clear how the concept of the best cat and color relate, but many times we have met people who simply fall in love with a certain breed, and the determining factor was the colors of the cats.

There is such a huge variety of colors that it’s simply dizzying; just look at the photos of all Scottish colors here, Maine Coons on this page or Bengal colors. In this matter, as in the saying - there is no friend according to taste and color, but it should be noted that some colors are inherent only in certain several breeds and cannot be found in others, such colors include - Sorel, Fawn, blue, lilac, golden and others not less interesting colors.

Thus, by giving preference to a certain color, you can already minimize the list of breeds that you would like to have.

Photo gallery of mixed-breed cats

When crossing Persian and Siberian cats, you get cute mestizos

It is difficult to determine from the appearance of a kitten which breed characteristics will prevail in the future.

Mixed breeds with the Marquis phenotype have an even, predictable character

Multi-colored mestizos are believed to bring good luck

The right age for mating

Scottish Folds belong to a group of fairly robust medium-sized cats. Like other animals, they enter sexual maturity at 8-9 months. But by this time, the female’s young body has not yet become stronger and pregnancy during the first or second heat will greatly affect the development of the pet. Therefore, a Scottish cat can be bred for the first time at the age of 1.5 years.

A Scottish Fold cat may be younger than his chosen one, but for the first mating it is still worth choosing a partner with experience. It’s very bad when they both don’t have practical skills and don’t know which way to approach each other. In addition, the cat at the first mating usually begins to scratch, lie on her side and is not able to understand what she needs to do. In this case, you will need the help of an experienced instructor.

Important! If owners do not plan to use the Scottish Fold for breeding, it is recommended to spay or neuter him.

Table of pros and cons of mixed-breed cats

The best cat and children. Cat character

Oh my goodness, there is so much conflicting information you will find on this topic.

Take the British for example, some say that this is the most affectionate breed and will not hurt a fly, others that they are very aggressive, keeping the whole family and even a large dog in fear. We will not agree with either one or the other, and on none of the breeds, for the simple reason that the decisive factors in the character of a cat and its attitude towards children are not the breed!

What determines the character of the best cat?

Genes, age, health and gender of the pet, by the way, you can easily decide who is better for you, a cat or a female cat, we wrote about this in a previous article.

Upbringing is a very important point, kittens need proper upbringing, they should grow up with people, not experience stress and other negative factors.

So, although there are no universal ways to determine which cat is better, we hope we have helped a little in choosing the best cat for you. Love your pets!

If you did not find the answer here, then this article may help: A cat is a source of energy.

Did you like the article and was it useful? Please share with your friends.

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Other interesting articles on our website:

• Kitten games. When kittens start playing

• How to feed a kitten correctly

• Kitten 4 months, feeding and care

• Kitten 1.5 months, care and maintenance

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Comments

Galina 12/10/2013 16:47

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Igor 12/10/2013 15:10 Good and informative article about different breeds of cats

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Sergey 12/10/2013 14:41 Excellent article. Thanks, I learned a lot!

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Peter 12/10/2013 14:35 What breed of cats is the best? If the very thought makes you feel uneasy, it is better to get a cat of short-haired breeds - among them there are many delightful varieties.

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Update list of comments

How to choose the right partner

Every owner should know exactly with whom to cross a Scottish Fold cat in order to get beautiful and healthy kittens. The choice of a partner must be carried out responsibly and according to all the rules .

• It is best if the animals have similar colors and basic characteristics. This way you can breed ideal offspring that will meet all the requirements for a given breed.
• It is better not to mix different colors; this can lead to kittens with coat or eye color that is inappropriate for a Scotsman. But such breeds are considered not purebred, they are more difficult to sell and cannot be shown at exhibitions.
• It is impossible for a cat and a cat to have intercourse together if at least one of them has his ears pinned back. This can lead to defects in kittens; they are born very weak and die quickly.
• You should not breed animals if none of them have previous experience.

Maine Coon cats (photo): kings of domestic cats

Color: tabby (brindle, classic, spotted and ticked), solid (solid), smoke (chinchilla, smoky, black smoke, shaded, blue smoke, silver, red).

The Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat, which, like the Pixie Bob , treats its family with great love and affection.

Maine Coons are caring nannies for babies, cheerful playmates for older children, excellent conversationalists for adults and wonderful companion cats for older people.

History of the breed

There is no reliable evidence about the origin of Maine Coons, there are only beautiful legends and assumptions of felinologists.

Raccoon-like Manx cats received breed standards, won 2nd place in the CFA in popularity and, having left their small homeland, found fans and owners all over the world.

Maine Coons have an excellent memory, remember intonations and words well, they feel their owner especially subtly, understanding him at first sight

Character and psychology

Behind the impressive appearance of the Maine Coon lies a kind-hearted person, ready for friendship with dogs, and with other cats, and, of course, with the owner.

The life experience of their ancestors who lived on farms taught raccoon cats to hunt, but they perceive ferrets , lemmings and degu squirrels

At home, small rodents are replaced by toys, which they not only play with, but are also happy to bring to the owner.

Balanced, devoid of the aristocratic imposingness of the British, Maine Coons are famous for their peaceful character, like Toyger cats , they do not like to be picked up.

A walk in winter is no problem for a Maine Coon

What is the owner of the male responsible for?

Before inviting a Scottish cat for mating, the owner of the male must know some rules so that the whole process does not lead to psychological and physical injuries .

• If animals have difficulties, they need help.
• Some animals can show aggression, therefore, at the slightest problem, it is better to postpone all mating actions. Maybe after a while the cats will get used to each other.
• Upon arrival at your destination, it is best to keep the cat in its portable vehicle for a while. Let her get used to it, sniff it, rest and gain strength.
• If animals are too aggressive, it is better to place them in enclosures so that they can get used to each other.

Who to choose: comparative characteristics

When comparing representatives of these breeds, we can conclude that Maine Coons are playful, friendly, and affectionate. Despite their overall size, they are graceful and slender, intellectually developed and easy to train. Proud cats, with a sense of their own dignity, will not beg for food from their owners and will not touch someone else's bowl. Although Maine Coons love to play, there will be no problems with broken things or scratched furniture in the house. Because of their inherent aristocracy, they are neat and balanced.

Bengal cats are comparatively even more active representatives than Maine Coons. Representatives of Bengals need special attention throughout the day, so it is recommended to be prepared for this before purchasing such a cat. Bengal representatives meow a lot, so when choosing such a pet it is recommended to take this factor into account. Cats do not like to be held, they should always have their own space. To choose the right furry animal for the whole family, it is better to first carefully study the character, behavior and health of cats of each breed.

Kittens

Bengal kittens stay with their mother for at least two and a half to three months. This period allows them to get stronger physically, socialize, and receive a mandatory package of vaccinations. Moving to a new home and separation from relatives inevitably greatly frighten the baby with noise, smells, and movement in the carrier. The owner will need attention and patience: it is not easy for a kitten to make new contacts and get used to unfamiliar housing. The articles “Caring for a kitten”, “Food for Bengal kittens”, “Education, training”, “Colors of kittens and phasing” contain recommendations regarding all processes of communication with little Bengals - funny in their hunting habits.

Pregnancy and childbirth

The gestation period for the Bengal cat is normal for the species - about 65 days. They count down the days from the moment of successful mating, which will be indicated by such indirect signs as the cessation of estrus, changes in behavior. An ultrasound confirms the presence of kittens in the uterus after 15 days. Bengal cats usually give birth on their own; assistance may be needed during the first lambing. However, it is recommended to undergo an examination and adhere to the advice of a veterinarian. You can read more about pregnancy and childbirth.

Read more about Bengal pregnancy