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In 1983, Mrs. Mill registered these cats with The International Cat
Association, TICA, as well as their offspring by a brown spotted domestic
tabby, Millwood Finely Found. Another feral cat, bright orange with deep
brown rosettes, was shipped to Mrs. Mill from the Delhi, India zoo to be
used in the new Bengal breeding program.
The Bengal Leopard Cat was first exhibited in a cat show in 1985, showing
in the New Breed or Color Class. The public response was overwhelming,
as crowds gathered in awe over this magnificent new creation.
Preceding information is from the book, "Getting Know To the Bengal Cat."
This book is an invaluable resource regarding Bengals and whether you want
to get a Bengal or just learn more about one. There's not much information
available except small paragraphs in cat breed books.
There are definite differences in this breed of cat that we have
noted. First because they are very costly, they go outside in
harnesses and on long leads. We started them out as kittens with
the harness training. We usually let them go and just keep an eye on
them, while they explore their territory. One time, Dude was stalking
something on the ditch bank in the tall grass. He was moving very slowly
and putting each foot down very carefully and very slowly; he had stretched
himself out full length and a bit beyond, all four feet were in different
positions; actually he was on three feet with the fourth stretched way out.
This was all in very slow motion, he was trying to place his fourth foot
when he just keeled over on his side. He jumped up, looked around and
then did his "I meant to do that look." When it's time to go into the
house, both wait by the back door to be unharnessed and will sit on the
backporch after their harnesses are off and wait for the door to be opened.
These guys are rated at 23% wild; and it is curious to see that Dude
will not drink standing water; because in the jungle, standing water is
stagnant and unhealthy. He much prefers running water and has taught
us to turn on the water in the bathroom sink by knocking a plastic
cup in the sink to make a racket. It works. Squeak will not leave wet
food alone; he will eat all his and then clean up Dude's dish too. He
does this because, don't you know, in the jungle, you never know when
your next meal will be. Dude weighs 20 pounds and Squeak is smaller at
14 pounds. Squeak doesn't like dry food much, and cats get most of their
growth from dry food, not canned food. We have to bribe him to eat dry
food, by putting a little baby food in it. Not too spoiled!!
These boys like to travel and go camping with us. Usually there will be
5 or 6 other outfits along and the cats like to check out everyone's
camper and love to play with any dogs that might be camping too.
If a dog gets too excited, and decides he's looking at what might
be lunch, both cats will bush up all over and go into a sideways
stiff legged stance and get very belligerant. If that doesn't work
Dude will chase the offending animal.
We were camping and had just finished dinner when a squirrel boogied
through our campsite, and ran up a small tree, Dude was right behind
him and boogied up a small tree right next to the squirrel's tree and
both of them sat and eyeballed each other for an hour. I think I forgot
to mention that Dude is intellectually challenged. He can climb up trees
but has no clue as to how to climb down the tree. Squeak has spent many
hours trying to show Dude how to climb up and down a tree all to no avail.
So to remedy the situation, Lance has taught Dude how to step into his
outstretched hands. Lance is over 6 feet tall, I am 5 feet tall; when
Dude hollers for help, I have learned not to look up, because, he is going
to jump down on whatever is available, your arms, face, back, shoulder
etc. confident in the knowledge that he will be caught and thereby rescued.
On veterinarians, Squeak is used as a teaching tool for our local Vet.
Squeak does not like Vet visits even a little bit; so when he's in the
carrier with Dude and we're going to the Vet; Squeak starts growling and
hissing and spitting and doesn't stop until he's safely home. Dude just
tries to disappear into your neck. The Vet has requested me to bring
Squeak down when he is trying out new assistants. He wants to see how
they handle "angry" cats. Squeak sounds like he will rip your arm off
should you reach in the carrier to bring him out. He's all talk and
sound effects. The Vet usually lets him run around the examining room
and the whole time, Squeak is being extremely vocal and threatening. He's
never laid a claw or tooth on anyone.
The only time we took one to the Vet without the other was the last time.
Dude needed an antibiotic and after we got home, Squeak was very rude and
hissing and spitting whenever Dude was near. We couldn't get him to stop
and this continued over the day and night and then the next day, when it
was time for Dude to have his liquid medicine given by syringe, I had a
brainflash, and put a little water in the syringe and told Squeak that it
was time for his medicine and squirted a little pink water in his throat;
and all was well. Squeak got a squirt everytime Dude did and now we know
that if one is going to the Vet, the other goes along for the ride.
They don't like being left at home for a few days even if there is a
cat/house sitter. They bond very strongly and don't like to be left
in the company of strangers. Every cat we ever had, said, oh, did you
leave? Never noticed. Not the Bengals; they get very unhappy and will
not eat much and are very cranky when we come home. So the Bengal cat
is a bigger commitment and careful consideration should be given when
making a decision to get one or not. In the beginning, I think we both thought
that we would recoup some of the cost by keeping one for stud. Bengal
working males need to have their own housing and don't make good in home
pets because they spray their territory continuously. We had ours neutered
before they really knew what was going on. They are wonderful pets; do
we regret spending the big bucks for them? Absolutely not! We had never considered spending that kind of money for a cat or pet of any sort; but
we did and we do continue to enjoy them immensely.
Aluren Bengals by Pat Killmaier
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