Non Bengal Marble?
by Cherry Sewell
(Cape Town, South Africa)
Asleep on my bed!
Hallo Everyone...I have a DSH and he has the very distinct markings that look just like a marble Bengal cat except his colouring is ginger with a white bib and feet.
I thought he was just a 'different' looking cat, but having come across this website and now doing a little research on Google, I see there is more to it - or maybe there is.
He has a very long tail, his markings are just like 'Sundog' on this page except he has the dark orange and pale orange marbling, he has the lighter underbelly and the rings on his tail and stripes on his legs. He also has the same 'shape' as the cats I see on here. His body is very long and lean and quite tall which made me think he would be a big cat, but his head is actually quite small - again very much like the images I see above. I've attached a photo (about 1 year) - but you cannot see his back which is almost exactly the same as Sundog as I said.
He also has different behaviour that I haven't encountered before - he carries things in his mouth like a dog - he will play with something and then pick it up and trot out of the house with it in his mouth - I have had lots of cats and I've never seen one do this.
He also has a habit of biting my toes to get me out of bed (if they are sticking out) but he doesn't bite hard, he just 'mouths' my toes... again I have never had a cat do this before. He is extremely agile and can jump amazing heights - I know cats can do this, but this just seems more extreme.
He is also not afraid of water, and will get into the sink if I let him when I am running water and washing something. He loves glasses of water and dips his front paws in and stirs it about - and loves to drink out of a glass rather than a bowl.
His mother was a small black tortoiseshell - much smaller than he is now and he is only just over one year. As the readers here have more knowledge of your breed of cat than others I was wondering if somehow I managed to pick up an interbred Bengal - or are the features I have described not specific to Bengals? I adopted him from a cat shelter in Northern NSW in Australia.
I would be really interested in your comments...and to hear more about your lovely cats!
Cherry
PS - Great website!!Bengal cats