A Bengal looks like a miniature wild cat, with a sleek, muscular body, a spotted, rosetted or marbled coat and, in many cats, a shimmering glitter on the fur. The breed began in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s with crosses between domestic cats and the Asian leopard cat, but pet Bengals today are many generations removed from that ancestor and are fully domestic cats.
Bengals are known for intelligence, curiosity and remarkable energy. Many fetch, learn tricks, walk on a harness, open cupboards and play with running water, and they tend to stay kittenish well into adulthood. That makes them rewarding for people who enjoy an interactive cat, and frustrating for anyone hoping for a quiet lap cat. Climbing space, daily play and puzzle toys are part of keeping a Bengal content indoors.