Maine Coon Bengal Mix is a gorgeous cat breed that is gaining a lot of popularity among cat lovers. It is a unique cross between the Maine Coon and a Bengal cat, and is often marketed as “toy leopards.”
The Maine Coon Bengal mix is a cross between the Maine Coon and the Bengal cat breed. This cat breed is stunningly beautiful, intelligent, and eccentric. Their wild ancestry and intense intelligence result in a cat with lots of behavioral quirks. They enjoy climbing, fetching, walking, and even swimming.
Today it is possible to have a cat with leopard spots and the size and disposition of a friendly domesticated cat.
If you own a Maine Coon Bengal Mix, you will be aware these cats are a very vocal breed, meowing a lot! They are also incredibly friendly and make wonderful pet companions.
They have the coveted feral look minus the wild aggression part.
What Is A Maine Coon Bengal Mix?
Maine Coon Bengal Mix originated from crossbreeding domestic cats with wild Asian leopard cats which is a type of small jungle cat.
The main motive behind creating this mix was to obtain a cat with a temperament of a domesticated cat and wild markings of a leopard cat.
This American hybrid was bred across several generations resulting in a fiercely sharp, intelligent, beautiful, and quirky cat that could be made a pet.
Today Bengal mix is a recognized breed and stands out for its spotted, rosette, and marbled coat of many colors and is sold in many parts of the world.
Are All Maine Coon Bengal Mix Cats The Same?
No two cat breeds, or two cats within the same breed can have similar traits. However, we can generalize a bit.
The mix of Maine Coon and a Bengal cat can have more traits from one breed than the other. These traits can be both physical and mental.
Nobody can be certain about which traits the cross will inherit though.
A Maine Coon Bengal Mix can have equal traits from both breeds.
Conversely, the cross could look more like Maine Coon and may have the behavior of a Bengal.
The only thing certain is that a Maine Coon Bengal mix will look both like a Maine Coon and a Bengal cat. All Maine Coon Bengal Cross can have different personalities.
Due to their wild origins and high intelligence, Maine Coon Bengal Mix shows quirky behaviors.
What To Expect When You Own A Maine Coon Bengal Mix?
As Maine Coon Bengal Mix is a cross we cannot be certain about their characters. Your Maine Coon Bengal Mix can have more traits from one breed than the other.
Let’s investigate the following in greater detail:
- Size
- Physical Traits
- Personality and Temperament
- Health Issues
Size
1. Bodyshape
If your cross shows more Bengal cat traits than Maine Coon, they will most likely have a slimmer, long muscular body, and broad, long face.
If the mix exhibits more traits of Maine Coon then they will be slightly bulky.
2. Weight
Maine Coon Bengal Mix weighs around 8 to 15 pounds.
They are not as giant as the Maine Coon but have an athletic and muscular build. Both Maine Coon and the Bengal are similarly-sized breeds.
So, their cross is also almost the same size. Both the Bengal and Maine Coon are larger in size so their kitten will also have a larger body than that of an average cat.
Physical Traits
1. Ears
If the kitten shows more traits of a Bengal cat, then they will have small ears at that point.
Whereas a cat bearing more likeness to Maine Coon will have fluffy and large ears and not pointy.
2. Coat
Most of the Maine Coon Bengal Mix are black and browns however, they can have coats in a variety of colors such as silver, charcoal, and even blue.
Their coat can have rosettes, spots, and marbling, which gives them an exotic appearance.
The spots on their bodies can range from chocolate to rust, and black.
3. Tail
Maine Coon Bengal Cross usually has a shorter-haired tail.
4. Eyes
Their eyes vary in colors from blues and greens to yellows and browns and ambers.
5. Fur length
Maine Coon Bengal mix has a glittery furry golden coat with an iridescent sheen. Their fur length is short to medium.
Personality and Temperament
1. Loving and friendly
If raised properly Maine Coon Bengal Mix can be an affectionate and gentle breed.
They are easily trainable and love playing games like fetch.
They can learn behaviors from humans such as turning on the taps, doorknobs, and even flushing toilets.
However, they can even learn bad behaviors from humans.
2. Extremely active
They are inordinately active and playful.
They are not likely to sit quietly curled up and chill in a sunny spot.
They like climbing everywhere – medicine cabinets, drawers, showers, kitchen cabinets, etc. If you leave them outdoors they will spend hours exploring.
3. Good With Other Pets
These cats love constant interaction and love the company of other pets.
They love having a companion to play with. Maine Coon Bengal Mix breed are attention seekers and therefore can’t be left alone for long.
Maine Coon Bengal Mix may have strong predatory instincts due to their wild ancestry so, small animals like hamsters, mice, and bunnies should be kept away from them.
4. Family Cats
These cats love to play with their humans and even vocalize their desire to play or interact with you. They are great with kids, are loving, and are great company.
Maine Coon Bengal Mix is an affectionate breed but may not be lap cats, like the pedigree Maine Coons, although there are exceptions.
5. Affinity For Water
Maine Coon Bengal Mix is obsessed with water.
These cats don’t drink water straight from the water bowl, but by dipping their paws in the water bowls and then licking it off.
They just love splashing and playing in water whenever they can.
6. Life Expectancy
Usually, cross-breed cats live longer than purebred cats.
Maine Coon can live around 10 to 12 years.
Bengal cats live for an average of around 13 years. So the cross lives anywhere from 10 to 16 years.
Health Issues In Bengal Cats
1. Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a degenerative disorder that causes abnormal development of the ball-and-socket joint in the hip resulting in instability and pain.
Bengal cats have a genetic susceptibility for hip laxity although obesity, nutritional level a pelvic-muscle mass can also influence the development and progression of hip dysplasia.
2. Patellar Luxation
Patellar luxation is a disorder in which the knee cap dislocates from its normal location. This is also a congenital and inherited condition and can result in limping or hind-limp collapse.
The reasons could also be trauma and injury.
3. Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
This is genetic hemolytic anemia caused by an enzyme called pyruvate kinase found within red blood cells. This enzyme enables red blood cells to survive.
A dearth of this enzyme can cause red blood cells to reduce significantly in the circulation causing anemia.
4. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is a degenerative genetic condition of the retina and can result in a progressive decline in the quality of vision. It can also lead to blindness in some cases.
Health Issues In Maine Coons
1. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
This is a hereditary disease that mainly affects middle-aged and older Maine Coons.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease and has a high fatality rate.
Almost 80 % of Maine Coons carry the mutant gene that causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
HCM is caused by a faulty gene that can be screened before breeding a cat.
2. Hip Dysplasia
Maine Coons are susceptible to hip dysplasia.
It is not life-threatening but extremely painful.
3. Spinal Muscular Atrophy
This is also a genetic disease Maine Coon suffers from.
Spinal muscular atrophy is not life-threatening but can result in weakened muscle development.
Health Issues In Maine Coon Bengal Mix
So, whether your Maine Coon or Bengal cat are full-bred or cross, they can either carry the genes that can cause these hereditary diseases.
Your Maine Coon Bengal Mix may suffer from one or more of these ailments.
Both the breeds suffer from hip dysplasia and so it is most likely that the cross between the two will have the same issue.
There are several tests available to detect the presence of the degenerative gene.
However, sometimes the presence of the worrisome gene does not mean that the disease will manifest itself.
It is always best to buy your cat from a reputable breeder so as to curtail the risk of genetic anomalies.
Caring For A Maine Coon Bengal Mix
Grooming
Maine Coon Bengal Mix has a less furry coat and so grooming them is relatively easier as compared to the Maine Coons.
This short-haired cat can take care of most of its grooming, although you will also have to intervene and help your cat in grooming once a week.
If your Bengal Mix has got the Maine Coon’s long fur then you will have to brush their coat twice a week.
Exercise
Both breeds need to be stimulated physically and mentally.
If your cat stays indoors only then thirty minutes of playing with the toys or running around inside is enough exercise for both cat breeds.
Both Maine Coon and Bengal Mix would need plenty of room to run around so clear out some space for your cat.
Training
Maine Coon Bengal Mix is a smart breed and learns new tricks like retrieving toys very quickly.
They can also be trained to walk on a leash alongside their owners.
You need to challenge their minds with food puzzles and interactive toys.
You would need a clicker, some treats, and a lot of patience. However, the training sessions have to be on your cat’s terms. They only decide when they want to learn, take a stroll, or snooze.
If these cats don’t get enough attention and activities to keep them occupied, they can turn destructive also.
As these cats are big you need to have a lot of space to accommodate them.
Socializing
Both Maine Coons and Bengal Mix thrive on human attention.
Maine Coon Bengal Mix can be dog-friendly, and kid-friendly if socialized early.
Socializing the kittens early can prevent your cat from becoming excessively loyal toward one person and developing other personality problems.
Diet
Maine Coon Bengal Mix cats like all other cats are carnivorous and therefore should be fed a diet high in protein.
These cats should not be given low-grade commercial foods that contain less meat and more carbohydrates such as corn, rice, or soy.
How Much Do Maine Coon Bengal Mix Cats Cost?
Maine Coon Bengal Mix is one of the most expensive cat breeds in the world.
They may be mixed breeds, still do not expect to be able to get a Maine Coon Mix for cheap.
They may not sell for the same price as the pedigrees but can still be pricey. However, their prices depend upon their seller and location.
But still, you can expect to shell out somewhere around $200 to $500 for a Maine Coon cross kitten.
However, these prices are negotiable and flexible.
Potential Issues When Purchasing Mixed Breed Vs Purebred
There are a lot of potential issues when purchasing a Maine Coon or Bengal pedigree or a mixed breed such as Maine Coon Bengal Cross.
Health
Purebred cats are bred for their desirable traits and from a limited gene pool, which can exacerbate the chances of hereditary illnesses in the kittens.
When breeds are mixed, their gene pool gets widened and can protect against many genetic problems that have become established in the pedigrees.
Maine Coons are more likely to develop heart disease than a Maine Coon Bengal Mix.
Price
Mixed breeds are cheaper than pedigrees.
Buying a purebred cat is dependent upon its coat quality and its color.
Appearance
Purebred cats have a predictable and standard appearance, personality, and energy levels.
They usually have a specific pattern, color, or coat length.
So, if you want your cat to have a particular appearance you can go for pedigrees.
However, sometimes not all purebred cats will conform to the expected appearance.
Where Can You Find Maine Coon Bengal Mix Breeders?
It may not be easy to find Maine Coon Bengal Mix kittens.
The pairing of the Bengal cat and Maine Coon is pretty unusual and therefore you may need to search around online a bit before you find a breeder.
You should never buy any Maine Coon Bengal Cross kitten without seeing their home where they were born and also the kitten’s mother and littermates.
Your kitten should be vaccinated and the breeder should have a health certificate to validate that.
The breeder should also release the kittens only when they are 8 weeks old as separating the kittens from their mother can result in medical and behavioral issues.
Conclusion
Living with a Maine Coon Bengal Mix can be both joyous and dangerous.
The Maine Coon Bengal Mix is a beautiful and intelligent domesticated breed. The breed has some unique attributes and is known for its distinct appearance.
So, is a Maine Coon Bengal Mix right for you?
Both Bengal cats and Maine Coons are popular for their magnificent size and personality.
Maine Coon Bengal Mix kittens are affectionate and playful. Which parent they take after more is something you cannot predict in advance.