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About the breed:
The Bengal is a medium to large, sleek and well muscled cat, with rakish hindquarters slightly higher than shoulders. Female Bengals average from 7 to 11 pounds at maturity, and males can average from 11 to 18 pounds at full growth.

The Bengal coat is short and dense, with a soft and silky feel, patterned in random spots or marbled, with a variety of acceptable colors. The coat may be "glittered," which is an effect that appears as if it were sprinkled with glitter.

 
Registries Accepting the Bengal

The Bengal is currently accepted for registration by the TICA, the ACFA and the GCCF.

The TICA accepts registration of F1s through F3s and beyond, however, in order to be shown in TICA, a Bengal must be at least four generations away (F-4) from its Asian Leopard Cat ancestor. The CFA considers the Bengal a "wild cat," and does not accept the breed for registration, or to be shown at CFA-sanctioned shows.

Breeding a Wild Cat

 

The Bengal is developed from the crossing of an Asian Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis) with a domestic breed, such as an Abyssinan, American Shorthair, Burmese, or Egyptian Mau. The first Bengal Cats were bred in 1963 by Jean Sugden Mills; and later in 1972, with eight female ALC-domestic offspring she acquired from the University of Calfornia.

 
A Purrfect Pet

To belie its wild background, a Bengal is described as lively, playful, affectionate, and intelligent. Bengals love water, and will splash in the sink, or even jump into the shower with you. The Bengal combines the exotic look and feel of the small forest-dwelling wild cats, they descend from, with the dependability and loving temperament of the domestic cat. For a walk on the wild side with an affectionate companion, you can't go wrong with a Bengal.