Bengal

Origin:

This exotic-looking breed resulted when a wild Asian leopard cat was bred to a domestic cat. While it may not be surprising that the Bengal was developed by a California cat breeder, matings between wild and domestic felines are rare.

Temperament:

Despite its origins, owners of the breed say it's friendly and not at all wild in temperament. There is about 1/8th of the leopard cat in the Bengal's background. Surprisingly, this breed likes playing in water.

Height/Weight:

Lithe and graceful as a leopard, this handsome breed averages 14-18 lb (6.5-8 kg) for males and 8-10 lb (3.5-4.5 kg) for females.

Colour:

The short coat comes in beautiful colours of leopard, sorrel, tawny, snow and marbled.