Do Bengal Cats Get a Winter Coat? - Bengal Cat Club
Do Bengal Cats Get a Winter Coat

Do Bengal Cats Get a Winter Coat?

If you have a Bengal cat, you may be wondering do Bengal cats get a winter coat. The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no,” so let’s take some time to look closer at the changes that a Bengal cat’s fur goes through and when and why a Bengal cat may get a winter coat.

In this post, we’ll cover the following:

  • What Changes Does a Bengal Cat’s Coat Go Through?
  • Why Do Bengal Cats Get a Winter Coat?
  • Do Bengal Kittens Get a Winter Coat?

Winter coat or not, this Bengal cat is clearly enjoying his time in the snow:

What Changes Does a Bengal Cat’s Coat Go Through?

There are two different types of changes that a Bengal cat’s coat will go through during their life. The first happens when they are kittens as they are maturing into adult cats. You can read more about that in our article “Do Bengal Kittens Change Color?”.

Here is a quick overview of the changes a Bengal kitten’s coat goes through as they mature into a cat:

  • 0 – 3 weeks: Bengal kittens only have what will later become an undercoat which will keep them warm as kittens.
  • 3 – 13 weeks: Bengal kittens get long guard hairs that help camouflage them and make them appear duller in color during this time of their life.
  • 6 – 8 months: Bengal kittens have their adult fur grow in, though they may still lack in contrast or have extremely bold colors.
  • 1 – 1 ½ years: Bengal cats will have their permanent coloring as they have officially reached adulthood. At this point, they will be much more contrasted and have the bold colors that are desired by Bengal owners.

The other changes that a Bengal cat’s coat will go through happen every year during the changes in the seasons. While these changes happen in most Bengal cats, they may be less noticeable on some cats, and others may not go through them at all. For some Bengals, however, the changes will be extremely obvious.

For Bengal cats that have a brown background, owners might not notice any major changes in color during the winter months. However, Silver Bengals will often get noticeably lighter, losing a lot of their contrast to the point where many owners who show these beautiful cats won’t do so in the winter months because they lack the contrast that makes them stand out.

Why Do Bengal Cats Get a Winter Coat?

In the fall, as the days start to get shorter and the temperatures outside start to drop, you may notice that your Bengal cat is shedding more than usual. This is because they are shedding their summer coat and will soon start to grow in their thicker winter coat, which may be a lighter color than their summer coat.

Although experts still don’t know for sure why animals go through these changes in winter, it is known that it has something to do with the shortening daylight hours. When there are less hours of daylight, this triggers many animals, including Bengal cats, to start growing in a winter coat.

Some people believe that changes in temperature alone will cause an animal to begin to grow in a winter coat, but it’s likely that a difference in temperature has a lesser effect on animals since even indoor Bengal cats will typically grow in a winter coat, even if they’re not spending any time outside where they would feel changes in outside temperatures.

Even though your Bengal cat may never go outside, their bodies are programmed to change in the winter, so they will still get thicker and longer fur. You may notice that they have longer fur around their neck and that their pelt feels fuller during the winter months.

In the spring, Bengal cats will shed their winter coat, which will come off on its own and find its way on your furniture, carpet, and clothes. The best way to keep this from happening is to regularly brush your Bengal cat, especially during the spring and fall months when they are shedding the most. You can do this with a cat shedding brush that’s designed to get all that excess fur off.

This silver Bengal is thoroughly enjoying getting their fur brushed out:

Do Bengal Kittens Get a Winter Coat?

Yes, Bengal kittens do get a winter coat. Most kittens are born in the summer months, so by the time winter rolls around, they are already developing their adult fur. As they get that adult fur coming in, they will get it as a thick, winter coat to protect them from the cold weather.

If a Bengal kitten is born later in the fall, they will develop a thicker coat. However, because they still aren’t great at regulating their body temperatures, young Bengal kittens shouldn’t go outside in the winter months. They will also need to be kept in warmer areas of the house and away from drafts that could make them cold.

So, both Bengal cats and Bengal kittens do in fact get winter coats. Don’t forget to get your Bengal a cat shedding brush to help them get rid of their old coat and get ready for a new one! They’ll love the way it feels and love the bonding time they’ll get to spend with you while you brush them.

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