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The Bengal is an extremely popular breed with an activity level, playfulness, need for attention, and intelligence that is the apex of cat personality. In other words, they don't get much more active, outgoing, and smart than the Bengal. It wasn't until the simple domestic cat was crossed with the strange Asian Leopard cat that the Bengal originated. This is like a domestic house on steroids. In fact, the Asian Leopard cat is the undomesticated closest relative to the common ancestor of all cats. In fact, they are so precious that it is illegal to buy and sell them. The Asian Leopard cat is a miniature leopard. The cat's CFA-sanctioned temperament is curious, assertive, intelligent, and alert. Several associations don't even allow cats with wild blood into shows because of concerns about biting, fear of humans, and peculiar behavior unique to wild animals. The Bengal cat is so used to the pleasures of a wild life that it often goes for swims with its owners, but it doesn't like being put in the water except when it does so with its own intent. It is usually a regulation to bar a Bengal cat from being shown unless it is four generations away from a wild ancestor. Sometimes, it possesses the glitter gene that makes it glow like it is covered with dew, frost, or snow against the light. Some people say it is as if they have been sprinkled with ultra-fine gold dust. The whole point of breeding a Bengal is get the wild Leopard look with the temperament of a domestic house cat. That's why it is a hazy battleground when assessing whether or not the Bengal can be show in cat tournaments. As of right now, there are a slew of domestic cats that are an outgrowth of Bengal breeding, including the Serengeti cat, Toyger, and Cheetoh. Certain laws are being amended in reference to wild animals around the world as outcry from breeders about the illegality of the Bengal is reaching lawmakers' ears. Many people find the breed perplexing because it is considered wild unless it is removed three generations from the Asian Leopard cat. The distinctive white belly, sleek wild cat appearance, rosette and black spot markings, and other reminiscent iconography from the Leopard throws people for a loop. Some do not possess spots at all, but have luxuriant black bands across the body that are more like stripes. Piercing blue or turquoise eyes and a pelt-like fur make this breed a tantalizing addition to a well-decorated home. You can get a taste of decor and the orient with this semi-legal rare breed. Some people confuse the Bengal, on first viewing, with a Margay, Ocelot, or Serval, all wild cats that are a bit larger than a house cat. Besides the Abyssinian, which is closely related to the common ancestor of all cats, there are not many breeds with so much genetic material from the wild. If one is not far removed enough from the Asian Leopard cat, it will demonstrate wild characteristics by default such as timidity, aggression, and peevishness around people and other animals. Be sure to check the temperament in person before purchasing a Bengal to verify for yourself that it is indeed four generations removed from the Asian Leopard cat component of it.
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