Discover the Beauty of Black Bengal Cat: A Complete Guide

black bengal cat

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the fascinating Black Bengal cat. This article will examine every facet of this unique breed, from its origins and physical characteristics to its personality traits, health, and maintenance needs. 

You’ll learn about the Black Bengal cat’s price range, weight and size, color variations, and anticipated lifespan. To help you decide whether a Black Bengal is the best option, we’ll also provide you with a list of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s get started and discover more about this stunning breed!

A Cursory Glance

  • Size: Medium build
  • Lifespan: 12-16 years
  • Famous For: Charming melanistic coat
  • Good With: Families with kids
  • Personality: Sociable, intelligent and active

Visual Appearance

 bengal black cat

What Is Black Melanistic Bengal Cat?

The Black Bengal cat is a unique variant of the Bengal breed, resulting from melanism, a genetic mutation that causes excessive pigmentation production. As a result of this mutation, their coats, and patterns are black, leading them to be known as melanistic Bengal cats.

Despite not being an officially recognized color, the black coat of these felines has garnered popularity among cat enthusiasts. You may also like to read about Silver Bengal Cat and know about its adaptability to different environments.

Bengal Black Cat History and origin

In the 1990s, the Black Bengal cat debuted as a relatively new Bengal breed variant. Two black domestic shorthair cats were crossed with Bengal cats to produce this striking breed with an elegant all-black coat.

Although still relatively uncommon, Black Bengals are becoming increasingly popular among cat lovers for their distinctive looks and endearing personalities.

Appearance

bengal cats black

Bengal Cats Black are known for their dominant feature of having fur that resembles leopard skin, with a solid black or black mottled pattern on a solid base color. At a young age, melanistic Bengal kittens have a dark, almost black coat with brown or black markings. Some black Bengals may have white or blue eyes, enhancing their wild look and sharp jawlines. 

These cats generally have an athletic and muscular build. Their fur is soft and often compared to bunny hair. The eye colors of black Bengal cats may vary, with shades of green, yellow, orange, and brown.

Black Bengal Cat Price

They typically cost between $1,500 to $5,000 on average, but those with excellent pedigrees can cost as much as $7,000. The price of Bengal cats is influenced by various factors such as their coat color and pattern, pedigree, age, gender, and the breeder’s reputation.

Did you know? Only 1 in 10 Bengal cats carry the melanistic gene.

Personality

They are intelligent, curious, active, and affectionate. They enjoy playing, climbing, exploring, and bonding closely with their human companions. The breed was created by conservationist Jean Mill to prevent the acquisition of wild cats as pets and to discourage the extraction of wild animals from their natural environment. She aimed to produce a domestic cat suitable for families with children and other pets.

Also See : Silver Bengal vs Domestic Shorthair cat: Choose Your Champion!

Bengal Black Cat or Melanistic Black Bengal Cat? What Should We Call It?

Both terms can be used to refer to the same cat – the black Bengal cat. However, in the Black Melanistic Bengal Cat’s name “melanistic,” refers to the increased melanin pigment in its fur, which gives it a black appearance.

black Bengal kitten

Health Issues

While black Bengal cats are prone to common health conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), cataracts, progressive renal atrophy (PRA), diabetes mellitus, and laminitis, their owners need not worry because Bengals are typically a healthy breed. Maintaining a balanced diet and providing regular physical activity can help these cats lead healthy lives.

Bengal Cats Black Size & Weight

This breed of Bengal cat typically weighs between 10 and 15 pounds and has an average height of 6 to 10 inches. Typically, females are smaller and lighter than males.

Care & Maintenance

Black Bengals, like other Bengals, are easy to manage even for the new owners. Some of the important things to care for in this regard are:

  • A healthy diet that includes all the necessary nutrients.
  • Refraining your furry friend from overeating and following a feeding schedule.
  • Exercise is essential for the health of active black Bengal cats. Give them toys, scratching posts, and climbing frames to entertain them.
  • Regular brushing will keep your pet’s coat shiny and matting-free. 
  • Veterinarians examine your cat on a regular basis for health issues. 
Did you know? The rarity of melanistic Bengal cats makes them more expensive than their non-melanistic counterparts, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $10,000

Color Variations

The coloring of Bengal cats black differs slightly from that of charcoal. The charcoal is only partially melanistic, whereas the former is all black Bengal cats. There is also a possibility of black and white Bengal cats.

Other coat patterns and colors, such as spotted marble, charcoal marble, seal sepia tabby, silver tabby, and brown tabby, may result from melanosis in black Bengal cats. 

Black Bengal Kitten

Black Bengal kittens are super cute when they’re little. Their fur is all black and shiny, which makes them look sweet. They run and play around, and you can see how much energy they have. Watching them is fun because they’re so lively and full of life.

Bengal Black Cat Life Span

A Black Bengal cat can live for 15 to 18 years on average. If its owners take great care of it, it can live as long as possible.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Elegant coat
  • Safe for people with allergies
  • Healthy breed

Cons

  • Illegal in some regions of USA & Canada
  • Needs large space
  • Expensive

Conclusion

Thank you for reading our comprehensive guide on the Black Bengal cat. We hope this article has provided valuable information about this unique and stunning breed.

Whether you are a current owner or considering adding a Black Bengal cat to your family, we trust that this guide has given you insight into their origins, physical and personality traits, health, maintenance needs, and more. Best of luck in your journey with the Black Bengal cat!

FAQs

Black Bengals’ darker fur might make them seem more allergy-friendly, yet evidence of heightened hypoallergenic compared to other Bengals is inconclusive; spend time with them before adopting to gauge potential reactions.

Black Bengal cats are still relatively rare compared to other Bengal breeds.

The black and grey Bengal cat, aka charcoal Bengal, is a rare color variation that is highly sought after by cat enthusiasts.

Social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook contributed to the increasing popularity of Bengal cats, boosted by celebrities and public figures owning them.

A melanistic Bengal cat has a black coat due to high melanin pigment.

Black Bengal cats are rare and stand out among the breed’s unique patterns.

Bengal cats can be primarily black, but pure black Bengals are uncommon.

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