MyCatBreeds
Both Bristol and Bengal are originated from United States. Both Bristol and Bengal are having almost same weight. Bristol may live 4 years more than Bengal. Both Bristol and Bengal has same litter size. Bristol requires Low maintenance. But Bengal requires Moderate maintenance
The Bristol cat hails from Texas and was developed during the 1980s, using a south American wild cat and domestic cats.
The Bristol cat isn’t well-known and in fact, its origins are shrouded in mystery.
The cat was recognized and admitted into the TICA (The International Cat Association. It is looked upon as a hybrid breed or a designer cat.
Nobody seems to know when the first Bristol cat was even bred. Because of its exotic nature, it is believed to be a cross between the American Shorthair and the margay or similar breed.
What an exquisite coat the Bengal cat has. It looks like the coat of a wild cat and can have spots, marbling, and rosettes, but it is domesticated, developed from hybrids – the spotted Egyptian Mau and the Asian Leopard cat.
It is the only domestic breed of cat that has rosette markings. It is Jean Mill of California that you associate the Bengal cat with, and she conducted a number of graduate classes in genetics.
Bristol cats are medium-sized and muscular, powerful cats. They are much like Bengal cats. They have a smokey charcoal appearance while others have quite a bit of white on them.
They also have rosettes and small rounded ears. The origins of the Bristol breed are uncertain but it seems a multi-colored cat was adopted by a United States Army captain in Australia.
The cat was so adored it was brought back when they returned to the United States. The cat was already pregnant and she gave birth to 2 kittens. The coats are shiny and short-haired with spots and lines of fawn, grey and brown mostly with the eyes being green.
The Bristol cat has a very pleasing disposition – being amicable, playful, and loving. They’re intelligent cats too but they need to spend time in solitude as well.
They definitely don’t respond and bond to everyone in the human family but tend to respond to only one person.
These Bristol cats are cunning and self-confident and because of their wild side, they will need a large area to roam. This is definitely not a cat for city life.
The Bengal looks like a wild cat and it can weigh up to 7kg. It can reach a height of 70cm with long, muscular legs and almond-shaped eyes which are green or blue.
When it comes to the coat of the Bengal cat, it has a wide variety of colors and patterns. The cat can be brown, black, red, grey, spotted, clouded, ticked or rosette.
There are Bengal breeders that claim that their Bengals are hypoallergenic so that they won’t cause an allergic reaction with their owers. This is something that hasn’t been scientifically proved and in fact many will say that there isn’t such as thing as a hypoallergenic cat.
The Bengal is a medium to large-sized cat, being long and lean and muscular. As a low shedder, it is believed the Bengal is a hypoallergenic cat breed – a cat less likely to cause an allergy with its human owners.
When you bring a Bengal cat into your home, you’ll find they are energetic, smart, and playful and they love cavorting around in water.
People who have owned a Bengal say that the cat is friendly and that it enjoys interacting with humans. They’re cats capable of forming strong bonds with their human family, becoming affectionate and loyal. They in turn want to receive lots of loving attention.
They’re intelligent too and are quick to learn. You have to remember that these are part wild cat and that they are only classed as tame from the 4th generation (T4).
The cat has wild traits so it is only natural that it likes to hunt so don’t be alarmed when your Bengal presents you with dead mice, moles, and birds.
The Bristol cat is beautiful all right, but once again humans should just leave wild cats alone in the bush.
Mixing them with domestic cats doesn’t work in the long run, and many of these cats land up in shelters because of unruly behavior. The Bristol cat is part wild and it doesn’t seem to have a future although there isn’ enough information online to really know what its future is.
Bengal cats are intelligent and just like a dog he is clever at learning tricks and can even be taught things such as ‘sit’, ‘fetch’ or ‘lie down’. They actually make great companions as they are sensitive to their owner's moods and can even recognize human gestures and adapt their behavior to their owner's mood.
They’re vocal cats too and they like to communicate about their needs, being able to meow in different tones. They’re active cats and they want active owners – those who can spend time with them playing and even going on walks and hikes.
The Bengal certainly is a wonderfully companionable cat.
Not much information on the health of this particular cat, but as with other cat breeds, lifestyle and nutrition play a huge role in the health of a cat.
Every cat, regardless of age, size, and energy levels will require top quality foods high in proteins, as cats are carnivores.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a concern with the Bengal cat breed and this is a disease where the heart muscle becomes thick and unable to pump blood properly.
It’s a common genetic disease in Bengal cats. Cats used for breeding need to be screened each year to ensure no hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is present.
Another problem with the Bengal cat is Progressive retinal atrophy or PRA. Anyone wanting to breed Bengals should have their cat tested for this eye disease as the disease can lead to blindness.
The diet of a cat such as the Bristol will include small rodents, however once domesticated, these cats will need a diet high in protein. The cat is a carnivore and to be healthy it will require high-quality premium commercial cat food that is appropriate for the age of your cat and his health status.
The best cat food has taurine in it, an essential protein that cats can only obtain through quality food. Your adult Bristol cat may prefer eating several smaller meals and this is actually a good idea as smaller frequent meals help towards greater urinary tract health.
If you want a healthy cat, you have to be diligent with providing such a cat with good food that is high in protein. If you aren’t sure, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what to feed your new cat or kitten.
Factors such as age, size, activity levels, and health make a difference to what you feed your cat, how much and how frequently.
Get into a habit of reading and understanding the labels on the cat food packaging. Certainly, every cat requires taurine, an essential amino acid. You will also need to ensure fresh, cool water day and night.
Always take your pet to the veterinarian if he is lethargic ad disinterested in his food.
Most cats are clean, but you should brush or comb your Bristol cat regularly as the brushing helps keep your cat's coat shiny and also reduces the amount of hair during shedding.
Provide your Bristol cat with a dry, warm sleeping area and keep the bedding clean.
Your Bristol cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. These ID tags or an implanted microchip can help ensure that your Bristol cat is returned if he becomes lost.
Cats scratch, and cutting your cat’s nails will keep the nails blunt. Nonetheless, to prevent your furniture from being scratched, provide your cat with a strong scratching post covered with a rough material such as sisal or tree bark.
Bristol cats are independent and they don’t require any kind of special care. Certainly, they require large areas for their active lifestyle as well as a shallow pool for swimming.
You will need a secured outdoor area for your Bengal cat where he can play and climb. He will need these for his activity levels as well as stimulating toys.
Provide feeding and water bowls and also make sure that you provide your Bengal with a shallow swimming pool as this cat loves water.
The Bengal is a healthy cat breed so it is important to provide your pet cat with the best food there is and to ensure he gets checked out at the vet every year.
Most hybrid breed owners provide raw food as these cats are often sensitive to commercially manufactured food. Having said that, there are high-quality prepared cat foods that will provide your Bengal with everything needed for a healthy life.
Look at providing your pet with a good supplement to ensure your furry friend has every chance to be healthy and happy.