October 9, 2024
by Robyn Paterson
Regarding Bengals, there’s a persistent and misguided belief circulating that Bengals frequently end up in shelters due to behavioral issues, making them poor pets. This assumption, however, is based on a series of misunderstandings. One of the most significant contributors to this misconception is the frequent misidentification of cats in shelters. As a result, statistics about purebred cats, including Bengals, are often wildly inaccurate, leading to the false perception that Bengals are commonly abandoned. Misidentification, along with flawed DNA testing, has distorted the reality of how many Bengals truly end up in shelters. This misconception needs to be addressed so Bengal breeders are armed with facts.
Misidentification of Pedigree Cats in Shelters
To address this misconception, it’s essential to first understand the actual proportion of cats purchased from breeders. In the United States, only 3% to 4% of cats are purchased from breeders, according to both the American Pet Products Association and the AVMA. Globally, this percentage is only slightly higher, hovering between 3% and 6% ("Pets by the Numbers"). Despite the small proportion of cats that are purebred, shelters often report a high percentage of "purebred" cats. So, how do these numbers make sense? The explanation lies in how shelters identify cats, where misidentification plays a considerable role.
One of the most significant issues is that 16% to 31% of cats in shelters are labeled as purebred ("Pets by the Numbers."). This is an obvious discrepancy when compared to the small percentage of breeder-purchased cats. As Smithsonian Magazine points out and The Humane Society confirms, shelters frequently misidentify the breed of cats and dogs based on appearance alone, significantly overestimating how many purebred animals are in shelters ("Pets by the Numbers"). With Bengals being a popular breed known for their appearance, the chances of misidentification are even higher. From 1993 to 2021, Bengal cats were The International Cat Association's most registered breed. This popularity increases the likelihood of a domestic shorthair with no pedigree cats in its genetics being mislabeled as a Bengal.
The Bengal's coat patterns play a significant role in why they are frequently misidentified. While Bengals are known for their coats, which can be spotted or marbled, these coat patterns aren’t exclusive to Bengals. Many domestic shorthairs or mixed-breed cats naturally develop spots. Shelters that rely on visual traits alone often categorize any cat with spots as a Bengal, even if they don’t have Bengal ancestry. This mislabeling is even more likely when it comes to the classic tabby gene, which is present in approximately 80% of mixed-breed cats ("Tabby Cat"). This gene, responsible for the circular pattern on many tabby cats, can resemble the marbled patterns of a Bengal, further complicating accurate identification. The assumption is that potential adopters are often attracted to specific breeds, especially purebreds, which are seen as more desirable. According to Fear Free Happy Homes, “shelters often attribute breed names to feline residents to make them more appealing,” resulting in a faster adoption (Bahner).
In addition, the Best Friends Animal Society indicates that adoption trends of younger adults favor pedigree pets ("2023 National Data Report"); therefore, cats labeled as pure breeds boost adoption rates due to the perceived value of purebred pets. This mislabeling practice can significantly improve a cat’s chances of finding a home, with many adopters mistakenly believing they are getting a specific breed when, in fact, the cat most likely has no pedigree cats in its lineage at all. Unfortunately, cats with no known ties to being a Bengal other than a similar coat pattern are labeled as Bengals to get them a home faster.
When a cat is inaccurately labeled as a Bengal, the initial misidentification can create a mismatch cycle between the cat and its adoptive family. Often, adopters take home a cat expecting breed-specific behaviors, only to be surprised when the cat’s temperament or needs differ from their expectations. For instance, a mislabeled Bengal might not display the high energy levels or playfulness that people associate with the breed. This disconnect can lead to frustration, and the cat is sometimes returned to the shelter. The problem is further compounded when the cat re-enters the system with the same inaccurate label, making the cycle more likely to repeat. Returned pets are already at a disadvantage, and the continued mislabeling can reduce their chances of finding a permanent home. Not only does mislabeling cause initial adoption issues, it can lead to repeated shelter stays, ultimately hindering the cat’s chances of finding a suitable and lasting home.
Furthermore, shelter cats may experience various forms of trauma, such as abandonment, neglect, or being shuffled between multiple homes. This trauma can manifest in behaviors like insecurity, anxiety, or even aggression. The adopter may become frustrated when the cat acts out. These behaviors, stemming from trauma, are then seen as “Bengal problems,” further cementing the misperception of the breed. When the cat is returned to the shelter, this can exacerbate the issue. Trauma-related behaviors are mistaken for breed traits on a mislabeled cat. If those mislabeled cats are repeatedly returned, it perpetuates the myth that Bengals are difficult or aggressive pets. This creates a compounding issue, where breed labels are incorrectly tied to trauma-induced behaviors, distorting the reputation of Bengals.
Breed Identification DNA Testing: A Flawed Tool
While DNA testing may seem like a good solution for accurately identifying a cat’s breed, it, too, comes with its own set of problems. DNA breed identification tests compare a cat’s DNA to a reference database of known breeds. However, these tests often produce inaccurate results because their accuracy depends on how comprehensive the reference database is. Smithsonian Magazine explains, “the reference database may not cover all the possible genetic lineages” (Solly). This means that DNA tests can indicate that a cat belongs to a particular breed even if it has no direct lineage to that breed. For instance, a moggies cat may share some genetic markers with a Bengal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has Bengal ancestry.
DNA tests were initially developed for use with pedigree animals, which have well-documented lineages. However, most cats worldwide are "moggies"—naturally occurring mixed-ancestry cats with no specific breeds in them. Unlike dogs, where mixed breeds sometimes have pedigree breeds in their background, most moggies don’t come from recognized breed lines. As Cats Protection explains, pedigree cats are rare, and most cats don't belong to a lineage that would be recognized by breed registries ("Getting a Pedigree Cat"). DNA tests identify breed markers, but that does not mean that moggies have a cat with that breed in their ancestry. Many breeds of cats share similar genetic markers due to common ancestors or traits not exclusive to one breed. For example, coat colors or patterns, like tabby markings, are present in multiple breeds and moggies.
Pedigree cats - all of which originated from moggies - share genetic markers with modern moggies due to common ancestry before the creation of pedigree cats. Modern breeds have existed for less than 150 years ("Domestication of the Cat"). Domesticated cats, in general, have less genetic variation compared to dogs. As a result, moggies may show genetic similarities to multiple breeds, even if they don’t have a direct lineage from those breeds. If a test finds that a moggie has markers resembling a certain breed, the DNA test will report a "match," even if that breed is not part of the cat's actual lineage. The test essentially finds similarities in the genetic code, which can happen by chance or due to distant genetic overlap. So, a DNA test might pick up a marker associated with a particular breed, but this does not guarantee that the cat has a purebred ancestor from that breed. For the millions of moggies, these DNA tests produce misleading results that imply a moggie is created from pedigree cats when it is not. Pedigree cats were created from moggies, and the ancestry is so close that the DNA markers are shared.
While some Bengals do end up in shelters, they are not disproportionately represented compared to other breeds. The perception that Bengals are overrepresented in shelters due to behavioral issues is not grounded in accurate data. Mislabeling of mixed-breed cats as Bengals, along with flawed DNA breed testing, has inflated the number of supposed “Bengals” in shelters. Bengals are not inherently problematic pets—they, like all other high-energy cats, need a family that will engage with them to provide mental and physical stimulation. Bengal breeders must take the time to educate their buyers on the needs of a high-energy cat and ensure the buyer has the time and dedication to meet the cat's needs before placing a Bengal in their home. As breed identification becomes more accurate and shelters move away from unreliable visual assessments, the myth surrounding Bengals in shelters can be dispelled.
Works Consulted
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