The Bengal cat is a hypoallergenic cat breed whose ancestors include the small, wild Asian Leopard cat and the small to medium sized domesticated Egyptian Mau. But other domestic cats can be bred with Leopard cats to produce Bengal cats.
Leopard cats originated from the forests of South East Asia. It is small and brightly colored like a Leopard. Bengal cats inherit the soft, fine and low-shedding coat of the Asian Leopard cat. A Bengal cat can have any of two coat patterns: the more common spotted pattern like a leopard/ Cheetah or stripped (marbled).
Bengal hypoallergenic cats have a variety of coat colors and their eyes are usually golden, yellow, bright green gold or blue. The Leopard cat has a great coat but doesn’t make good pets since they are wild. This led to the creation of their hybrids, mostly to have domestic cats who have a soft, short coat. Bengal cats are also very hardy as a result of having the wild Leopard cat’s genes.
Bengal Cat Hypoallergenic: Do Bengal Cats Shed?
Leopard cats have many sub-species whose colors and patterns vary depending on the regions where they live. Leopard cats who live in colder regions have longer and heavier coats.
Do Bengal cats shed? Bengals are hypoallergenic!
The hypoallergenic Bengal cat is mostly a product of wild Leopard cats who live in warmer regions and have short, smooth fur – and domestic cat breeds.
A Bengal cat’s coat is exotic and low shedding. These quiet and affectionate cats have a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. Bengal kittens reach maturity at about 2 years. The hypoallergenic Bengal cats are social and live will with other pets. You may brush a Bengal cat once per week to remove dander and further reduce the level of Fel d 1 in your home.
Do Bengal Cats Shed? Frequently Asked Questions about Bengal Cats
Are Bengal cats good house pets?
Yes. Bengal cats love water, and can be found frequently playing and swimming in water. They are intelligent and friendly. They are very agile but get bored quickly if left alone. This is a good pet for people who spend most of their time at home.
What does a Bengal cat cost?
A Bengal cat from a reputable breeder can cost as much as $7,000. But the average cost of a Bengal cat is between $1,000 and $3,000. However, one can get a Bengal cat at a much lower cost (less than $100) from cat rescue and adoption centers.
Are Bengal cats aggressive?
A bored Bengal cat can bite someone – and even bite furniture. The aggressiveness that is sometimes seen in Bengal cats is because these cats have a lot of energy. They love to play with interactive toys, in water and with other cats. But this cat breed, when well exercised, is friendly, playful and loving.
How big does a Bengal cat get?
Bengal cats are medium to large in size. They weigh between 8 to 15 pounds (3 – 7 kg). In addition, male Bengal cats are bigger than the females.
How tall do Bengal cats get?
A Bengal cat can be 20 to 25 cm tall. A cat’s height is measured from the top of their head to bottom of the front feet. A Bengal cat can be as much as 35 to 46 cm long from the tip of the nose to the end of his tail.
More Questions that People Ask
What is the most hypoallergenic cat?
Bengal cats are one of the most hypoallergenic cats. This cat breed grooms themselves less frequently than most cat breeds. Since Fel d 1 allergen is secreted mostly in a cat’s saliva, this means that Bengal cats have less allergen on their fur.
Do Bengal cats shed a lot?
No. Bengal cats don’t shed a lot. They have a soft, fine, short coat that is shed minimally.
What makes a cat hypoallergenic?
All cats produce a protein called Fel d 1. This is the main compound that causes allergic reactions in people. Cats have this protein in their saliva, urine and dander (dead skin). But there are cats such as the Bengal cat that produce less Fel d 1 and don’t groom themselves as often as many cats do. Hypoallergenic cats also shed less fur/ hair. Some hypoallergenic cats like the Sphynx are hairless.
Are hypoallergenic cats really hypoallergenic?
It depends on your understanding of hypoallergenic. No cat or dog is 100% hypoallergenic. But it’s a fact that hypoallergenic cats and non-shedding dogs cause little or no allergic reaction in people who are prone to pet allergies.
A Hypoallergenic Bengal cat makes a great family pet for all people, not just folks who have pet allergies. These low shedding, allergy free cats are also easy to train and require little grooming.