How to Identify a Bengal Cat

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Look at the overall appearance of the exotic Bengal cat. It is a medium-sized, muscular breed of domesticated cats. Its hindquarters are slightly higher than the shoulders, adding to its sleek, predatory stance. The feet are large and round, and the tail is thick and tapered at the end.
Step 2:
Observe the head and facial features of these cats. The head is small in proportion to the thick, muscular neck and is longer than it is wide. The muzzle is broad, the whisker pads are full and the cheekbones are high. The eyes are large and oval shaped. These cats' ears are small and rounded, which combined with the smaller head, gives it the feral look of cats in the wild.
Step 3:
Notice that this is one of the most interesting cat breeds because of the wild, exotic markings and the rich texture of the coat, which is thick, plush and extremely soft. There are several, recognized color combinations and two patterns. The two patterns are spots and marbled, and they flow in a horizontal rather than vertical pattern around the body. The colors range from browns, blacks and white, but the characteristic spots or marbling are always present in the contrasting color.

Tips & Warnings

The Bengal cat is one of the few cat breeds that enjoys playing in the water.

Resources

Find pictures of color patterns of the Bengal cat at www.bengalspot.com.

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