With his majestic bearing and distinctive stripes, the Bengal Tiger is arguably the most recognizable of the exotic cats. A formidable predator, the Bengal Tiger is one of eight subspecies of tigers and the cousin of the world's largest cat, the Siberian Tiger. Sources state the mighty roar of the Bengal Tiger can be heard as far away as two miles.

In the wild, the Bengal Tiger is a solitary cat, even in hunting. This cat hunts at night, stalking large prey such as deer, buffalo, pigs, and livestock, depending on availability. The Bengal does not like to share territory with other tigers and marks his territory. The Bengal Tiger has also been known to eat humans, crocodiles, frogs, monkeys, and small rodents if given the sufficient opportunity and appetite. This cat, according to sources, almost always begins to eat his prey at the hindquarters. Home stalking ground for Bengal Tigers usually ranges from 17 miles for females and 20 miles for male Tigers. Large enclosures are necessary for the Bengal Tiger as a pet, and it is necessary that it be constructed of such sturdy material as chain-link fencing and concrete. An owner must take into account the local rules and regulations for the care and maintenance of the Bengal Tiger. A steady diet of fresh meat is necessary for the health of the Bengal Tiger, as with any large, exotic cat. Bengal Tigers have substantial appetites and can eat as much as 65 pounds of meat a night. Zoological vitamins can also be used to raise a healthy cat. A steady supply of fresh water is required. The Bengal Tiger should not be considered by inexperienced owners. A first-time exotic cat owner would not be advised to attempt to raise a Bengal. Training is essential for Bengal Tigers, as most exotic cats, to avoid unfortunate accidents and injuries to family members and household pets. It is recommended that an owner spend significant time with the pet Bengal Tiger to teach the cat not to claw, bite, or climb on clothing. What can be seen as a minor problem with a cub can escalate to a major one in a large, fully-grown cat. Desensitization, or the introduction of the cat to new people, places, and events, is also recommended. The Bengal Tiger, as most exotic cats, has a temperament consistent with that of a wild animal. Even if raised to be an affectionate pet, the Bengal Tiger will still react as any wild animal to sudden movements or noises, and regard small animals as potential prey. Bengal Tigers have been known to live in captivity for as long as 15 years, so when considering a Bengal Tiger as a pet, he must be considered as a lifetime commitment. It should also be noted that the roar of a Bengal tiger can be heard as far away as two miles. This should be taken into consideration before purchase. The Bengal tiger is also capable of purring like a domestic cat, though the Bengal only purrs when breathing out, while domestic cats purr in both directions.

The Bengal Tiger is famous for his dark brown or black horizontal stripes on a red-orange coat. These stripes serve as camouflage. The stomach, inner legs and neck are usually off-white in color. Male Bengals can weigh from 440 to 595 pounds. Female Bengal Tigers typically range from 275 to 355 pounds. This cat's paws are heavily padded. The average mature Bengal measures from 4.5 feet to 9.2 feet in length, not including the tail. The Bengal has excellent, highly developed hearing and sight. The Bengal Tiger, unlike domestic cats, can only purr when breathing out. The Bengal Tiger's language includes loud roars and growls to purrs. The Bengal Tiger is also seen in white. This is a rare mutation, but is spectacular to behold. As an interesting side note, the three largest wild Bengal tigers caught to date (two from the state of Northern Pradesh and one from Assam in India) were all surprisingly larger (overall body length and weight, but not skull size) than the largest wild Amur tiger ("Siberian tiger") ever measured. However, the largest tiger on record is a captive male Amur tiger.

The Bengal Tiger is an endangered species due to poaching. It is reported that there are approximately 4000 Bengal Tigers in the wild, including those in protected preserves. The Bengal tiger's habitat is mainly in eastern India and Bangladesh, but also to a lesser extent in Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan, Nepal and Burma. Bengal Tigers can reside in a variety of climates, including tropical forests and snowy plains, if they have access to a continual supply of water and prey.

Education of proper care and maintenance of exotic cats is essential to own a Bengal Tiger. Proper licensing and documentation is also required to own a Bengal Tiger and all other exotic cats. It is necessary that a potential owner of a Bengal Tiger find out all the specifications needed to own an exotic animal in his area. A lack of paperwork could result in the confiscation and euthanizing of the cat. A veterinarian willing and able to treat exotic cats is needed for the well being of the cat. A veterinarian trained in exotic cat care will be more able to care for the special needs of the Bengal Tiger, such as diet and anesthesia. Vaccinations for common feline diseases are necessary. Issues such as spaying or neutering the cat or declawing should be discussed with a trained professional.

The Bengal Tiger reaches sexual maturity at three to four years of age. There is no determined mating season for these cats, although mating most frequently occurs in the spring. Males stay with the female only until they mate, then returns to his home hunting ground. The gestation period for the Bengal Tiger is reportedly between 95 and 112. Females typically give birth to litters of two to four cubs. The cubs' eyes open at 15 days and they are born with the characteristic stripes. The cubs nurse two to six months and can begin to hunt on their own at 11 weeks. Females are ready to mate again two to three years later.