Question: Do you need a special permit to keep a Bengal cat? Answer: In most countries, you do need a permit to house a wild animal, such as the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC). A Bengal cat, however, is a domestic cat. So, as with any other domestic breed, you do not need a special permit.

Question: What are early generation Bengals in contrast to SBT Bengals? Answer: F1, F2, and F3 Bengals are early generation Bengal cats and are the result of the first three generations of the Asian Leopard Cat x Bengal cross:

•  The offspring resulting from a direct ALC x Bengal cross is known as an F1 (50% ALC)
•  An F1’s offspring is an F2 (25% ALC)
•  F2 x Bengal results in an F3 hybrid (12.5% ALC).

Question: Can you keep a Bengal cat in the house? Answer: At first, I didn't want to add this question because I thought it was pretty hilarious. But apparently, many people still do think that Bengals are too dangerous (!) to be kept indoors. Bengals are as gentle and affectionate as any other cat. They are outgoing, extremely intelligent, and love to be around their humans - there also seems to be a group of Bengal owners in the US who have started doing agility with their Bengals. So, like any other member of the family, the Bengal deserves to be kept in the house.

Question: Is the Bengal the only cat with a wild ancestor? Answer: No, but you can say that the Bengal has the longest tradition as a domestic. There are currently quite a number of breeders experimenting with hybrid cats, most of which have not yet reached complete domestic status. Nevertheless, there are some very interesting breeds currently under development, such as the savannah cat (a serval x domestic hybrid), the safari cat (geoffroy cat x domestic), the chausie (jungle cat x domestic) just to name a few. The savannah cat is currently being bred in Europe on a small scale (Germany (3 breeders), France (1), Austria (1), and Sweden (1).)

Question: I’ve heard that it is especially important that Bengal cats are well socialized. Answer: This is true, however, it does not only apply to the Bengal, it applies to any animal allowed to freely roam the household. Socialization starts right after birth, by accustoming the very young kittens to the touch and smell of their human friends. Kittens have to be taught not to shy away from regular household noises, voices, music, etc. and if they have been able to live among other cats, dogs, humans, etc. they will most likely be well socialized and outgoing young cats. You must bear in mind, however, that this work does not stop once the kitten leaves the breeder’s home. A responsible cat owner will do his or her best to provide for their beloved feline(s). A well socialized cat that is neglected and left alone most of the day, will turn shy and much good work has been undone by inexperienced (and unsuspecting) cat owners. The modern-day pedigree cat has become the "alternative dog" for the career-oriented household and why not? They are beautiful, easy to care for, you don’t have to take it for a walk, it doesn’t have to attend obedience classes, you can go on a trip and leave it with mom or friends, the list goes on why cats make the perfect pet for the busy person, but a cat left on its own for a longer period of time is an unhappy and bored cat. A two-cat household may be a wise option worth considering for people who spend much of their time outside the home but still want to benefit from the companionship of a cat.