豹猫是夜行动物，通常以啮齿类、鸟类、鱼类、爬行类及小型哺乳动物为食。除了交配季节外，它们一般为独处。
豹猫是体型较小的食肉类，略比家猫大，体长为36～66厘米，尾长20～37厘米，体重1.5～8千克，尾长超过体长的一半。头形圆。从头部至肩部有四条黑褐色条纹（或为点斑），两眼内侧向上至额后各有一条白纹。耳背黑色，有一块明显的白斑。全身背面体毛为棕黄色或淡棕黄色，布满不规则黑斑点。胸腹部及四肢内侧白色，尾背有褐斑点或半环，尾端黑色或暗灰色。[1]
豹猫的体形十分匀称。头圆吻短，眼睛大而圆，瞳孔直立，耳朵小，而呈圆形或尖形。牙齿的数目减少，只有28～30枚，但很多牙齿的形状变得很强大，同时连带着上下颌骨也变得短而粗壮，而控制颌骨的肌肉及附着的颧弓也变得更坚强有力。门齿较小而弱，上下颌各有3对，主要作用是啃食骨头上的碎肉和咬断细筋。犬齿长而极为发达，最为突出醒目，而且还与附近的门齿及前臼齿之间保持相当的空隙，是主要的武器，用来杀伤或咬死猎物，由于前后有间隙，因此能咬得更紧，贯穿得更深。上下4枚犬齿相合，好比4支枪尖交错一般。臼齿只有1对，上臼齿退化，都是非常弱小，而且被压缩到内侧，但是下臼齿则很坚强发达。一般没有第一枚上前臼齿，第二枚上前臼齿不大。裂齿强大，又有两三个特别锐利的齿尖，上下交错，形如剪刀，可以咬穿最硬厚的牛皮或割裂最坚韧的兽肉。裂齿位置靠后，接近咀嚼肌，所以它们的强力咬切动作均后移至嘴角。
生境：豹猫主要栖息于山地林区、郊野灌丛和林缘村寨附近。分布的海拔高度可从低海拔海岸带一直分布到海拔3000米高山林区。在半开阔的稀树灌丛生境中数量最多，浓密的原始森林、垦殖的人工林（如橡胶林、茶林等）和空旷的平原农耕地数量较少，干旱荒漠、沙丘几无分布。
食性：主要以鼠类、松鼠、飞鼠、兔类、蛙类、蜥蜴、蛇类、小型鸟类、昆虫等为食，也吃浆果、榕树果和部分嫩叶、嫩草，有时潜入村寨盗食鸡、鸭等家禽。豹猫的食性和生活习性与俗称“野狸子”的丛林猫很相似，虽然两者外观有差异，但仍然容易被搞混。
习性：窝穴多在树洞、土洞、石块下或石缝中。豹猫的巢域大小，豹猫主要为地栖，但攀爬能力强，在树上活动灵敏自如。夜行性，晨昏活动较多。独栖或成对活动。善游水，喜在水塘边、溪沟边、稻田边等近水之处活动和觅食。
Loved by those who appreciate its inquisitive and loving nature, the Bengal is a medium to large domestic cat most renowned for its richly colored, highly contrasted coat of vivid spots or distinctive marbling. The Bengal is the only domestic cat breed that can have rosettes like the markings on Leopards, Jaguars and Ocelots.
Bengals are generally confident and devoted companions. They get along well with other pets when properly introduced and enjoy being part of a family. Active and interactive, Bengals are curious and athletic and maintain a kitten-like energy and attitude well into their senior years. These affectionate cats engage their owners in play, learn tricks, learn house-rules, or just like to be close. Some Bengals are generally talkative while others prefer to wait for the right time to communicate. Many Bengal Cats have an affinity for water and will enjoy watching you brush your teeth, while others are keen to join you in the shower.
The charm of the Bengal personality may only be eclipsed by its beauty. While the most recognized color and pattern is the brown spotted or rosetted tabby (which is reminiscent of a Leopard-like color and pattern) Bengals come in two basic pattern flows: the spotted/rosetted and the marbled. The marbled pattern looks more like the extended blur of a Clouded Leopard's markings.
Many people are captivated by the wild expression on a cuddly kitten that comes from the distinctive tabby facial markings and large oval, nocturnal eyes. The highly contrasted markings appear in all Bengals no matter the pattern and color, even in the seal lynx point or black silver tabby with their "snow leopard" appearances. While most Bengals have green, yellow or gold eyes, the lynx points have blue eyes and the minks have aqua eyes. Some Bengals have "glitter," a sparkle at the tips of the hairs visible when the light catches them. To mimic the look of a wild cat, Bengals have wide noses with prominent nose leather (the skin on the tip of the nose), and the muzzle is completed with prominent whisker pads. With too many color and pattern combinations to fully describe here, it is safe to say that everyone will have their favorite and there are enough varieties to tickle each person's fancy.
But wait until you feel a Bengal. First, you will encounter the pelt-like plush coat that is like the coat on no other domestic cat. Ranging from rabbit-like softness to the resilience of the densest hand-tied rug, the Bengal fur is an unexpected treat. Underneath that plush, patterned coat, Bengals are well-muscled-even the females, which are smaller than the males-with long bodies and thick tails to provide balance.
Observing the Bengal Cat in motion is the best way to appreciate its unique combination of strength and elegance. More like a basketball player than a gymnast, the grace of a Bengal cannot be denied when it is simply walking across the back of your sofa or getting ready to pounce on the teaser toy in interactive play. And yes, the Bengal can take a spectacular spill, just like that basketball player landing after an amazing dunk.
Like all domestic cats, the Bengal Cat traces its origins to non-domestic ancestors. However today's domestic Bengal Cat comes only from breeding Bengals to other Bengals and requires no specialized care. You need only open a fashion or style magazine to appreciate that throughout history there are indications of a profound human fascination with the large and small wild felines that inhabit the jungles and forest of the world. In 1963, Jean S. Mill crossed the domestic cat with the Asian Leopard Cat, a spotted, five to twelve pound, shy non-domestic cat species from Asia. This was the first effort to use hybrid offspring to create a breed of domestic cat with the loving nature of the best fireside tabby and the striking look of Leopards, Ocelots and Jaguars. The modern Bengal breed traces to cats bred by Mrs. Mill in the early 1980's.
When searching for your own Bengal companion, look for a breeder well versed in feline health, including genetic health, particularly as it applies to Bengals. Expect detailed questioning to help the breeder make a match between you and a Bengal cat or kitten. The breeder should expect your questions as well, and so do your breed research and approach breeders with your enthusiasm and thoughtful questions about the breed and feline care. Going to shows is a great way to see a variety of Bengal cats and meet breeders who can help you learn more. Breeders will usually allow their kittens to go to their new homes at between 12 and 16 weeks of age.For more information, please contact the Breed Council Secretary for this breed.
