 Abyssinian cat vs Bengal cat. What are the differences between these two cat breeds? A love of heights is a signal trait of the Abyssinian. He likes to be as high up as possible, and will appreciate having one or more ceiling height cat trees. The Bengal could never be called delicate. Their athletes, agile and graceful with a strong, muscular body, as befits a cat who looks as if they belong in the jungle. Despite their wild appearance, Bengal cats are actually quite affectionate with their human families. That said, they also have high energy and a fun loving playful side. The Abai is often said to look as if he had just walked straight out of the wild. That's because of his ticked coat pattern, which resembles that of wild cats such as cougars. A ticked coat is alternating light and dark bands of color on each hair shaft. Everything about him suggests his lively, attentive nature. The Abai has a slightly rounded wedge-shaped head topped with large, broad ears, the better to hear you with. Large, almond-shaped eyes of gold or green express interest in everything they see. On the face, dark lines may extend from the eyes and brows. The muscular body is graceful and athletic. It falls into a middle ground between the stocky, or cabi, the body of a breed such as the Persian, and the long, svelte body of the Oriental breed such as the Siamese. The body is supported by slim, fine-boned legs atop small, oval, compact paws. Abais are often said to look as if they are walking on tiptoe. Swishing behind them is a long, tapering tail. The Bengal could never be called delicate. He is an athlete, agile and graceful with a strong, muscular body, as befits a cat who looks as if he belongs in the jungle. His broad head is a modified wedge shape, longer than it is wide, with rounded contours. Atop it are medium-sized to small ears that are relatively short, set toward the side of the head. Large oval eyes are almost round. Joining the head to the body is a long, muscular neck. Joining the body are medium-length legs, slightly longer in the back than in the front, with large round paws. A thick, medium-length tail tapers at the end and is tipped in black. When a Bengal rolls over, you can see that another characteristic is a spotted belly. Of all the cat breeds, the Abyssinian is perhaps the one who lives life to the fullest. He climbs higher, jumps farther, plays harder. Nothing escapes the notice of this highly intelligent and inquisitive cat, a quality that makes life with him both endlessly entertaining and continuously challenging. Staying a step ahead of an Abai, as the breed is nicknamed, or even just keeping pace with him, requires the fancy footwork of a Fred Astaire, the brain power of an Einstein, and a sense of humour that never stops. You never know what he'll get into next, although you can assume that if you have something or are doing something, your Abai will want to investigate it closely. Some people refer to the cats as a bi-grabby because of their propensity for taking things that catch their interest. As it may seem as if the Abai never sleeps. He is ever in motion, jumping up in the window to look at birds or squirrels, leaping on top of the refrigerator to supervise meal preparation, perching on your desk to watch your fingers move over the keyboard, and then swiping at them so you'll pay attention to him instead. This is a playful, persistent cat who adores being the centre of attention, and will do anything to achieve and maintain that status. The Abai loves to play, so plan on making or purchasing a variety of toys to keep him occupied. Ping-pong balls, bottle caps, watered-up pieces of paper, puzzle toys, and teasers such as big peacock feathers will all amuse this busy and brainy cat. Teach him to retrieve at your peril. Once you start, he won't let you stop. He learns tricks quickly and many Abai's enjoy running a feline agility course. A love of heights is a signal trait of the Abyssinian. He likes to be as high up as possible, and will appreciate having one or more ceiling height cat trees. When those aren't available, he is perfectly capable of making his way to the uppermost point of any room. Fortunately, he is naturally graceful and rarely breaks items unless it is simply out of curiosity. Abais are adaptable throughout their lives and fit well into any home where they are loved and given plenty of attention. In a home where people are at work or school during the day, the Abai does best with a companion, ideally another Abai, who can match his activity level. If left to his own devices, the Abai may well dismantle the house in his search for something interesting to do. Beware. The Abai can be addictive. Once you've had one, you may find that no other cat will do. The Bengal is highly active and highly intelligent. This makes him fun to live with, but he can sometimes be challenging. On the whole, the Bengal is a confident talkative, friendly cat who is always alert. Nothing escapes his notice. He likes to play games, including fetch, and he's a whiz at learning tricks. His nimble paws are almost as good as hands, and it's a good thing he doesn't have opposable thumbs or he would probably rule the world. Instead of playing in the water, the Bengal is not above jumping into the tub or strolling into the shower with you. Aquarium and pond fish may be at risk from his clever paws. He also loves to climb and can often be found perching at the highest point he can reach in the home. A tall cat tree or two is a must for this feline, as are puzzle toys that will challenge his intelligence. On the rare occasions that he isn't swinging on chandeliers or swimming in your pool, the affectionate Bengal will be pleased to sit on your lap. It goes without saying that he will share your bed. And yes, he steals the covers. Hello. This video is sponsored by Beemix Pets. Are you looking for high quality cat collars at an affordable cost? Check out, BeemixPets.com. Use coupon code KittenLife, to get 20% off. The short, fine coat of the Abyssinian is easily cared for with weekly combing to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. A bath when the cat is shedding will help to remove excess hair more quickly. The short, thick coat of the Bengal is easily cared for with weekly combing to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. A bath is rarely necessary. Brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Trim the nails every couple of weeks. Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don't run the risk of spreading any infection. Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft, damp cloth moistened with a 50 to 50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear. Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a dirty box may cause them to start using other places in the house instead. It's a good idea to keep Abyssinian and Bengal as indoor only cats to protect them from diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outdoors, such as being hit by a car. Keeping him indoors also protects local birds and wild life from this avid hunter. If possible, build your Abyssinian and Bengal a large outdoor enclosure where he can jump and climb safely. Cats who go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such a beautiful cat without paying for it. The active and social Abyssinian and Bengal are a perfect choice for families with children and cat friendly dogs. They will play fetch as well as any retriever, learns tricks easily, and loves the attention he receives from children who treat them politely and with respect. They are smart enough to get out of the way of toddlers but love school-aged children because they are a match for his energy level and curiosity. Nothing scares them, certainly not dogs, and they will happily make friends with them if they don't give them any trouble. Always introduce any pets, even other cats slowly and in a controlled setting. Like many active cats, Bengals have a high prey drive and should not be trusted with smaller prey animals such as hamsters, smaller rabbits, and guinea pigs. If you enjoyed this video, kindly press the like button. 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