
This cat breed has solid, bicolor, and tortoiseshell members, but stripes are often the desired coat pattern among breeders. This ensured that the tabby gene passed from generation to generation. Cats that could hunt their own food and serve a purpose to farmers were the ones that survived to pass on their genes. The American Shorthair developed through natural selection and is a true working cat. They were used as pest control on ships, and they continued their mouse-catching duties on dry land. There are no indigenous cat breeds in the Americas, and researchers generally agree the continent’s first cats made their way across the ocean with European settlers. Like all Americans, the American Shorthair is originally from across the pond. They are strong cats that can make great family members for the right people. Many American Bobtails are tabby cats, and the wild-looking stripes add to their exotic appeal. They’re not actually related to the wild bobcat, but their physical similarities are undeniable. People love American Bobtails for several reasons, and most notable is their wild appearance. These ferals were all mixed breeds, and breeders worked together to develop a new breed with no recognized purebred cats in its breeding stock. All American Bobtail cats are descended from ferals with naturally short tails. Their back ends and coat patterns give them a wild appearance, and this is exactly what breeders aim for. These striped cats have short tails that are especially muscular and flexible. The American Bobtail is another cat often recognized by its tail. The classic tabby, or marble coat pattern, often presents as elongated swirls that resemble exotic stripes. While the spotted tabby is most popular, the breed standard for Bengal cats includes three standard colors and two different patterns. They are muscular, agile, spunky, and many of them come with stripes. They love to play with humans and often make great companions for children. These cats are sometimes prohibited by housing agents, landlords, airlines, etc, and some states have strict regulations against them.Īs long as a Bengal comes from a responsible breeder, these wild-looking cats are affectionate and friendly. Early generation Bengal cats (when the cat’s parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent is an Asian Leopard Cat), are closer to being wild animals than pets. This helps ensure the kitten grows to be a suitable pet. Most reputable Bengal breeders only sell kittens that are at least four generations separated from their wild cat ancestor.

The Bengal cat is an exotic cross-breed that is a mix between a domestic cat and an Asian Leopard Cat. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
