Wondering if my cat is a Bengal cross

I didn't take it the wrong way, I just wanted to make it clear that I know he’s a moggie and always will be, no matter what ^^ No, I know Bengals aren't actually that big, but they're still a bit larger than a standard moggie. It’s also his head shape and those big paws of his that make me think there might be some Bengal ancestry there. Anyway, it’s just fun looking for similarities.

I totally get it! Yes, it’s true you often hear that moggies have a hardier constitution (which is why I wonder why people still breed "pedigrees". It’s such a human thing to do, breeding for looks at the expense of the animals' health...)

Hey! 😁

I wasn't criticising you at all, I was just saying that Bengals aren't typically massive cats. Yours being 6kg (around 13 lbs) definitely makes him a big lad, but among my non-pedigree moggies, I've had five that were over 7kg (15 lbs), with one at 8kg (17.5 lbs) and another at 9kg (nearly 20 lbs). None of them were overweight; they just had very large frames.

That’s why I was wondering if you might be getting them mixed up with Savannahs, which are one of the three largest domestic cat breeds (getting up to 13kg—about 2 stone—I believe). A Savannah cross would likely be a very large, athletic, leggy cat.

But I completely get what you mean. The thing is, the gene pool of European moggies has so many ancestral crosses with Oriental cats and African Wildcats (sylvestris lybica)—not to mention modern breeds—that it's impossible to say for sure if the OP's cat is specifically part Bengal, especially just by looking at the coat.

Even in humans, there are surprising genetic mixes that challenge the idea that you can predict health issues just by knowing the "breed" or background.

Take me, for example: I’ve got a 100% dark complexion (lol). I’m not mixed-race, so I can soak up the sun in the tropics without the slightest worry about sunburn. Of course, you still have to be careful about melanoma, but that typical "white person" sunburn? I don't even know what that feels like!

On the other hand, I have mixed-race African friends who have quite dark skin, but because of their mixed heritage, they get sunburned just like white people do, though perhaps not quite as severely.

What I’m trying to say is that purebreds often have breed-specific diseases due to inbreeding. The fact that this cat isn't a registered pedigree (like the LOOF in France) actually protects him. Instead of having breed-related issues, his mixed background makes him heartier thanks to "hybrid vigour."

Do you have a photo with something in it for scale?

Bengals are medium to large cats, but 13 lbs isn't really that unusual even for a moggy.

Maybe you're getting them mixed up with a Savannah?

Actually, I don’t think it’s about being desperate to find a breed in the ancestry, but rather just curiosity or looking for an explanation for the cat's personality or physical traits.

For instance, my parents got a kitten from a local rescue (he’d just had his first check-up at the vet) in exchange for a £45 donation of dry food and a promise to have him vaccinated, microchipped, and neutered. The vet said he was 2 months old, and it seemed believable at the time. But looking at him now that he’s an adult, I doubt he really was that age. He’s a 13lb cat (because he’s big, not fat) and has Bengal-like traits in his build, his gait, his energy, and the fact that he talks ALL the time! Despite that, he’s still just a moggie since he’s far from being a registered pedigree, which doesn’t make him any less lovable.

What I mean is, it can also be interesting to know if your cat has some breed ancestry that might be dominant. For my parents' cat, for example, standard flea treatments don’t work because they only cover cats up to 9lbs. Again, it’s not a huge thing, but if the cat you adopt isn’t a pedigree but has ancestry from a breed with specific health issues, you can keep a much closer eye on their health.

Kalou, you’ve got your wires crossed regarding PKD (kidney disease) 😁

This kitten is gorgeous, but to my mind, he doesn’t look anything like a Bengal. He’s just a lovely little moggy. I don't see why people are so desperate to find a specific breed in his ancestry; an unneutered Bengal wouldn't be out wandering the streets looking for local females unless his owners were completely irresponsible.

Hi there,

Your cat certainly has quite a unique pattern, but moggies come from all sorts of crosses and genetics just throws it all into the mix. You end up with some real beauties sometimes that look just like a particular breed. They're moggies nonetheless, and they're stunning.

(I agree about vets — those who actually know their cat breeds are in the minority).

Just to show you what I mean, here’s a photo of a little moggie who also looks a bit like a Bengal, despite not being one:

I reckon it is possible though—with all the crossbreeding, he could easily have a Bengal ancestor. I’m not saying he’s definitely got a Bengal mum or dad, just that it might be further back in his family tree.

You can definitely find marbled Bengals online with a similar sort of coat, and rosetted ones as well.