At Minakatz BENGALS, we; Tracey and Steve have been building our reputation as a trusted Cat Breeder in Norfolk since we bred our first animals back in 2010. We take our responsibilities very seriously and strive to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all our pets. That’s why the happiest days for us are when one of our animals is adopted by a loving and welcoming family.

Bengal Cats are smart, curious, agile, playful and lovable animals. It is this special personality and behaviour, coupled with their wild visual appearance that makes the Bengal so desirable. 

The typical Bengal cat is medium to large in size with a sturdy, muscular body. The males are slightly heavier and larger than the females. The head is relatively small, with large eyes, a broad nose with prominent whisker pads, and short rounded ears. The tail is medium in length, thick and carried low, balancing the overall look of the cat. 

Bengal cats have a striking appearance that reminds us of a wild cat. However, the Bengal is not a wild cat! It is a domestic breed of cat created by selectively breeding the small (4.5kg), forest dwelling, wild Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), (felis bengalensis, indigenous to the jungles of Southeast Asia), with several domestic breeds. The domestic cats used in the cross included, among others, the Egyptian Mau, the Abyssinian, the Ocicat, the Burmese, and the Domestic Short Hair. 

The objective of this cross-breeding was to combine the exotic leopard look of the wild ALC with the sweet disposition the much loved domestic cat. Therefore, the domestic Bengal cat does retain a strong physical resemblance to the beautiful, wild ALC together with the gentle sweetness of the common house cat.

The Bengal Cat is the only widely recognized breed with a background as a hybrid between the domestic cat and a wild cat species (i.e. the Felis Prionailurus, or the Asian Leopard Cat). This unusual background is the reason why Bengal breeders and owners of Bengal cats are often asked questions about the character and behaviour of the Bengals.

Check out our "About" Page there are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.