To put the problem in clearer perspective, over two million cats are euthanized every year in the United States while they wait in animal shelters to be adopted or re-claimed.
To extend scarce pet shelter resources and to give some unwanted cats a new lease on life, Bengal cat rescue organizations have stepped up their efforts to find homes for these beautiful, wonderfully affectionate felines.
A Short History
Although some Bengal cats are similar in appearance to Bengal tigers, they are totally unrelated to modern tigers. The breed became popular in the early 1960s because of its wilder, more exotic-looking horizontal stripes and spots that clearly set it apart from other domestic cats.
The cats’ marbled coats and patterns further defined them as a unique domesticated breed. Most feline experts now believe the Bengal cat was originally a hybrid of the Asian Leopard cat and a domestic cat that was developed by breeders who wanted to create a cat with the physical features that distinguish the small forest-dwelling wildcats, while enjoying the loving temperament of the domestic cat.
Characteristics
The Bengal cat is a friendly, athletic, curious, confident animal with balance, agility, grace and strength. Considered medium to large domestic cats, males weigh 10-15 pounds and females weigh 8-12 pounds; both sexes have solid, muscular builds with a straight to concave profile.
Their large eyes are oval, but nearly round, and set in a small head that gives them a wilder, more expressive look. Wide-based, short ears with rounded tips make their profile even more distinctive and unique. Most Bengals have wide noses with whisker pads that stand out from the face.
Colors range from brown to sepia or from black to silver with many marbled variations. The cat’s soft, dense coat is short and silky while the medium-length tail is low-set and thick, thus giving the animal a more balanced visual line.
Properly socialized as kittens, they are affectionate and well-behaved cats who are very active and energetic and who mellow with age. A healthy Bengal’s lifespan is about 13-16 years.
Almost everyone knows that pet overpopulation is a tragic reality, and there are simply not enough homes or animal shelters for millions of wonderful, innocent pets.
Responsible owners cannot humanely house, feed, care for and love every unwanted animal. All good pet owners must spay and neuter their animals while breeders must manage their breeding stocks responsibly.
Bengal cat rescue organizations provide temporary and permanent homes to these pets and give them a chance to become natural companions in peoples’ homes. As with any pet, a cat should be introduced to a new home with children as early as possible because it makes for a shorter and easier adjustment period.
Most rescue organizations are run by volunteers and established breeders who love Bengals and Bengal-mix cats; many of these cat-lovers encourage prospective pet owners to provide temporary foster homes while they also learn more about the Bengal breed. Put simply, the world needs more homes for Bengal cats.