The Kleinman family has never been one to settle for docile animals as pets and our cats are no exception.  We share our home with three spirited Bengal boys: Zeno, Khan, and Jaxx.

Zeno and Khan are 14-year-old littermates, while Jaxx, the “baby” of the family is nearly 8 but still zooms around like a kitten. Each has his own striking look: Zeno sports a classic spotted coat, while Khan and Jaxx have the dramatic, swirling patterns known as marble.

Bengals are classified as an exotic breed by TICA—The International Cat Association. They’re a hybrid breed originally developed by crossing the wild Asian leopard cat with domestic cats like the spotted Egyptian Mau. Today’s Bengals are the result of generations of careful breeding. To be considered a Bengal (and not a wild hybrid), a kitten must be at least four generations removed from its wild ancestors.

While their coats make them look like miniature leopards, their personalities are feisty but tempered by their domestic breeding.  Bengals are beautiful, wild-looking, and incredibly smart. They’re social, people-oriented, and thrive on interaction. They share many traits with typical house cats—but with a serious boost in energy, curiosity, and personality. They’re clever, athletic, very vocal and famously independent, not known for being lap cats. They do what they want, when they want—and we absolutely love that about them!