Collection: Personalised Bengal Gifts

If you want the original big cat in a small body then the Bengal is the cat for you. The Bengal is the result of a cross between the Asian Leopard Cat with DSH – the Domestic Shorthair. This cat is exotic to look at with a large powerful frame and a spotted or marbled coat with many variations. Their coat has a unique sheen which makes it look like it has been sprinkled with glitter.

The ancestry of the wild Asian Leopard Cat is clear to see in the Bengal but this breed is a domesticated cat at heart. If you want a cat that has a real ‘call of the wild’ appearance without all the hassle then the Bengal is the breed for you.

It is said that the development of the Bengal as a breed was to stop people trying to domesticate wild cats or keep them as trophies in the home but the story goes that the first Bengal was actually an accident and bred in California.

A breeder called Jean Mill acquired a leopard cat which was kept with a black Tom for company, the inevitable happened and the result was a litter of beautiful spotted kittens. Jean bred the spotted female with a male leopard cat and the dynasty began. Another breeder in the States was also experimenting with leopard cats as they are resistant to the feline leukaemia virus and he was curious to see whether this gene could be passed onto other felines. The two breeders liaised and so began the Bengal breed as it is known today.

In 1983, the International Cat Association granted the Bengal experimental breed status and then full recognition followed in 1991.

Intelligent, curious ands highly energetic, the Bengal is a real feline athlete so needs plenty of space. Some Bengals like water and so if you combine this with tree climbing then a mini jungle would be ideal for these feline adventurers.

Bengals are the big personalities in the cat world so a busy household with plenty of space is the ideal environment for them. They do mix well with children and other pets and are loyal and affectionate.