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View 8 More +If you’re looking for a cat like no other, the Snow Bengal could be exactly the right breed for you. These white Bengal cats have pale and incredibly eye-catching coats. They are known for their wild cat ancestors and are one of the newer cat breeds.
Snow Bengals are mischievous, attention-seeking, and always looking for entertainment. Their beautiful appearance appeals to plenty of people, but it is not a low-maintenance breed. If you want to go out all day and leave your cat at home, a Snow Bengal will most likely create havoc while you’re gone! But if you can give these cats the time and attention that they deserve, you’ll have a loyal friend for life.
We’re here to tell you everything you need to know about this breed!
Breed Overview
Height:
13–16 inches
Weight:
8–17 pounds
Lifespan:
10–16 years
Colors:
Snow Lynx, Snow Mink, and Snow Sepia
Suitable for:
Families looking for an affectionate, playful, and active large cat
Temperament:
Energetic, slightly mischievous, intelligent, and sociable
Snow Bengal Cat Characteristics
Snow Bengal Kittens
Snow Bengal kittens are irresistible, but that small and cute kitten will soon mature into a demanding mature cat. So, before you sign up for one of these cats, you need to be 100% sure that you can provide the type of home environment that they need to thrive.
Snow Bengal cats adore company and don’t enjoy being left home alone for long periods. They have higher energy levels than many cat breeds, meaning you’ll need to provide a great deal of entertainment and stimulation for them to feel content.
Bengal cats of any color can suffer from a few health conditions, and you need to be sure you can budget for any veterinary care that they may need in the future.
What’s the Price of Snow Bengal Kittens?
Due to their relative rarity, Snow Bengal kittens are expensive. Different breeders will set their prices depending on the color of each kitten, the type of health tests that their parents have had, and whether the kittens are show-quality pedigrees or not.
Snow Bengal kitten prices vary between breeders. We’d recommend budgeting somewhere between $1,5000-$5,000 for your new kitten. You may see Snow Bengals advertised for less than this, but you’ll need to research to make sure they have been ethically bred by a reputable breeder who has plenty of experience producing healthy kittens. Most Snow Bengal breeders will be using third filial generation (F3) or fourth filial generation (F4) cats as the parent cats, and you can ask to see their pedigree documents.
You should also ask to visit the breeder’s facilities to find out which health tests the parent cats have had and their results. Any reputable breeder will be more than happy to have the answers to all these questions and more.
Another option is to contact shelters and see if they have any older Snow Bengal cats looking for new homes. While they’re not cheap, Bengals can end up in shelters when families aren’t prepared for what owning one of these cats involves. Many people looking for a new cat are entranced by the Snow Bengal’s incredible coloration and the prestige of owning such a breed. Sadly, this doesn’t make them the right owners for these cats, which tragically leads to Bengal cats being surrendered to shelters by owners who couldn’t meet their requirements.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Snow Bengal
Snow Bengal cats aren’t for the faint of heart. These cats are smart, high-energy, and attention-seeking! They love human company and will demand your attention if they think that you’re ignoring them. These cats are affectionate, but they won’t necessarily want to curl up on your lap for a snuggle; they’re more likely to be playing on the floor instead. They will want to be in the same room as you or other family members, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be relaxing.
Snow Bengals can be talkative and make a few distinct noises that serve as just another reminder that these cats aren’t your average domestic pet. They might chirp or coo to get your attention or make an annoying noise when they want to let you know that something has displeased them. They love exploring their homes and enjoy climbing whatever they can, whenever they can.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
Snow Bengal cats make wonderful family pets as long as you have plenty of time to dedicate to keeping these busy cats entertained. They love to interact with kids, although they may avoid unruly toddlers until they learn how to play with them politely!
Their bold and playful nature makes them a great companion for kids who want a cat that will love to play games for hours on end.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
Snow Bengals love company, and they can get along extremely well with other pets if they’re introduced slowly. They can be territorial, so introducing a new cat to the household once your Snow Bengal cat is mature can be tricky to accomplish.
However, if your budget and time commitments can handle it, getting two kittens at the same time can work extremely well. That way, they’ll always have someone else to play with, even when you’re out of the house or busy with something else! Snow Bengal cats also get along well with dogs, thanks to their playful and bold natures.
Snow Bengal cats have a high prey drive, so it’s not recommended to keep them in the same house as smaller pets like rodents and rabbits. Fish also generally aren’t safe from their inquisitive paws, especially since the cats aren’t scared of water! So, if you have a fish tank in the house or a fish pond in the backyard, take care and make sure they are fully secured at all times.
Things to Know When Owning a Snow Bengal Cat
Deciding to add a Snow Bengal cat to your family is one that will change your life considerably! They require more attention than most cat breeds, so you need to make sure you can commit to giving them the time and attention that they deserve.
Despite being an expensive breed, plenty of Bengal cats end up in shelters after having been surrendered by their families simply because those families couldn’t provide what these affectionate and energetic cats require from their owners. So, before you put your name down for that Snow Bengal kitten, here’s more information to help you make up your mind.
Food & Diet Requirements 
Snow Bengals are active and will need high-quality food to help them build lean and healthy muscle. Your Snow Bengal kitten should be fed kitten food that’s approved by the AAFCO for the growth and development stage. Whether you choose dry kibble, wet food, or even raw meals will depend on your preferences, but always choose a complete food that’s designed for your cat’s specific life stage.
Exercise 🐈
Snow Bengals are energetic and need a great deal of mental and physical stimulation to keep them at their healthiest.
Many owners of Snow Bengals decide to keep them as primarily indoor cats. They are a rare and sought-after breed, especially with their eye-catching pale coats, and some people won’t think twice about stealing a friendly Snow Bengal that happens to be outside.
Snow Bengals love to hunt, so keeping them inside will prevent them from harming your local wildlife population. You can build an outdoor cat enclosure to help your Snow Bengal enjoy the fresh air and sights of the outdoors while in a safe enclosed environment.
This can be something simple, like a small enclosure attached to a window or an extensive enclosure with tunnels and patios covering your entire backyard. Whatever your budget and space, you can buy or build an enclosure to match.
Training 🧶
Snow Bengal cats love the challenge of being trained, and many Bengal cat owners see training sessions as a regular part of keeping their cats mentally happy and healthy. Snow Bengals can be trained to walk on a harness or leash and to play fetch, sit, stay, and roll over!
They love the challenge of food puzzles, hide-and-seek games, and having plenty of toys to fetch. These intelligent cats benefit from positive reinforcement techniques and will soon learn to perform commands for food!
Grooming ✂️
The Snow Bengal breed has a short and dense coat that doesn’t need much maintenance at all. A quick weekly groom will be all they need to stay looking sleek.
While Snow Bengals love playing in the water, they rarely need a bath. To maintain dental health, it’s a good idea to brush your cat’s teeth regularly to help prevent periodontal disease.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Snow Bengal cats can suffer from various inherited health conditions. While they’re usually healthy, it’s worth asking the breeder to discuss these conditions with you in more detail. They may carry out health tests on the parent cats and should be happy to share the results with you.
- Patellar luxation
- Hip dysplasia
- Distal neuropathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Flat-chested kitten syndrome
Male vs. Female
If you’re smitten with the idea of adding a Snow Bengal to your family, you might be wondering whether you’re going to choose a male or female kitten. We always recommend waiting to meet the kittens that you’re interested in before you make your decision.
If you select a new pet from a small litter of Snow Bengals, you’ll have fewer choices regarding the kitten’s sex. There are few differences between male and female Bengals, but choosing your new Snow Bengal kitten based on their personality rather than whether they’re male or female is always the best way to go.
3 Little-Known Facts About Snow Bengal Cats
1. Snow Bengals Come in Three Colors
Bengal cats can have two main coat patterns: spotted or marbled. A Snow Lynx Bengal cat will have a white or pale cream-colored coat with seal markings varying from dark to light in shade. These white Bengal cats will have dark brown tail tips and blue eyes.
A Snow Mink Bengal cat will have a cream, ivory, or light tan-colored coat, with dark seal mink to seal mink-colored markings. Their tail tips will be dark seal brown. They can have aqua or blue-green eyes. A Snow Sepia Bengal cat will have an ivory, light tan, or cream coat overlaid with seal sepia to dark seal sepia markings. They will have seal tail tips and green or gold eyes.
2. Snow Bengals Love Water
We all know that most cats aren’t exactly fond of water, but Snow Bengals will actively seek it out. These playful cats will jump at any opportunity to get their paws wet. They may try to jump in your bath, take a shower, or stick their paw under a running tap.
3. Bengal Cats Were Originally a Hybrid
The Bengal cat breed was created in the 1960s by crossing a wild Asian leopard cat with domestic felines. They were recognized by the International Cat Association as an experimental breed in 1983 and fully recognized in 1991.
For a Snow Bengal to be accepted by breed registries as a Bengal cat, they must be F4. This means their parents (F3), grandparents (F2), and great-grandparents (F1) must all be domestic Bengals. It will be their great, great grandparent who is an African Leopard cat.
Final Thoughts
Snow Bengals are eye-catching felines that will soon have your whole family under their spell if you decide to bring one of the adorable kittens home. They might look incredible, but they’re a high-maintenance cat breed in terms of the amount of attention that they need from their owners. You need to be 100% sure that you can provide what a Snow Bengal needs before you make that commitment.
They also have a curious nature that makes nothing in your home safe from their investigating paws! They thrive with human companionship and won’t enjoy being left home alone for long periods.
They might spend hours creating their fun, including climbing up shelves and knocking their treasured possessions over or opening cupboards and investigating the contents. One thing is guaranteed: life with a Snow Bengal will never be dull!
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- Bengal Cat vs Maine Coon: Main Difference (With Pictures)
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Featured Image Credit: Seregraff, Shutterstock
