Bengal cats have wild cat blood, so you might expect them to be significantly larger than their fully domestic peers. Although Bengal cats are often a little larger than average, if you’re expecting your kitten to look like a bobcat someday, you’ll probably be surprised. In fact, these cats range from medium to large, but they’ll stay in normal size ranges. However, their lean, muscular bodies and high energy levels might make them seem more powerful than their size suggests.
Asian Leopard Cat Size
The Bengal’s wild blood comes from the Asian Leopard cat, a small wild cat native to Southeast Asia. These beautiful spotted cats are about the same size as domestic cats, weighing in at anywhere from between 6 to 15 pounds. depending on the subspecies and region. However, they are built slightly differently than domestic cats, with longer legs and tails that give them a tall, elegant appearance.
Bengal Cat Size Range
Bengal cats follow their domestic parents, ending up with a similar size range to most domestic cats. Your average Bengal cat will weigh about 8–17 pounds. depending on the cat. They are also around 13–16 inches tall. As you can see, that’s a pretty big range! Male cats tend to be slightly larger than female cats, but there are lots of other things that can affect your cat’s size.
Factors Determining Size
Although hybrids like Bengals have some traits that set them apart, they actually don’t have a lot of wild blood. Most Bengals have about the equivalent of a wild ancestor for a great-great or three greats grandma! That means there’s a lot of domestic cat blood in Bengal cats, and that has to come from somewhere.
The breeds used to cross with your Bengal’s wild ancestors are the biggest factor in determining size. Some lines were bred with cats that already had spotted coat patterns, like the Egyptian Mau. Others looked for cats with graceful lines, like the Bombay. And finally, some breeders just crossed cats with whatever was locally available—usually British or American Shorthairs. That diverse original gene pool means that there’s a lot of variety in size. If your cat’s ancestry mostly comes from a smaller breed, they’ll tend to be smaller. Today, most Bengals worldwide are bred with other Bengals, averaging out the gene pool, but you’ll still see a big variation in size from cat to cat.
When Will My Bengal Stop Growing?
Bengal cats are fully mature in about two years, so you can expect your cat to be at a final weight and height around then. However, the rate of growth slows over time. That means that your cat will likely be more than half of his final weight by six months old and only gain a couple of pounds in his last year. You can usually get a good idea of your Bengal’s final size by the time they reach a year old but remember that they are still maturing.
Featured Image Credit: skeeze, Pixabay
