Bengal

The Asian Leopard Cat (Felis Bengalensis) is one of the thirty two species of “small wild cats”.  This species, because of its magnificent coat, has been a favourite prey of fur trappers.  In an attempt to recreate and preserve the beauty of this jungle feline, cat breeders have successfully bred the ALC to domestic cats.  Viable offspring were produced but, because the parents were of two different species, males in the first few generations of hybrids were sterile.  After many years of outcrossing, inbreeding and selective breeding a wonderful new breed of domestic cat was created – the Bengal Cat (so named after the scientific name for the Asian Leopard).

 The Bengal cat is a registered domestic breed, bred to resemble the appearance of a wild cat but with the loving temperament of the gentlest house cat.  These “miniature wild cats” are totally dependable in personality, they require no elaborate housing facilities and are of a practical size for a family pet.  They have preserved traits from the wild cat of super efficient ears, eyes and whiskers, camouflaged pelts, agility, self confidence.  They are an extremely intelligent feline.  The breed includes genes for an ultra soft silky pelt, with golden glitter, rosettes, horizontal alignment of spots and a pale underside.

 The first recorded outcross was made in Yuma, Arizona in the US by Jean Sugden who had acquired an Asian Leopard Cat in the late 1950’s when they could still be acquired in the local pet shops.  In 1963 she crossed this female ALC with a shorthaired black domestic male.  A spotted daughter from that mating was eventually bred back to its father and produced more spotted and solid offspring.  Mrs Sugden became widowed and her breeding programme was abandoned at this time.  In the late 1970’s Dr Willard Centerwall, a geneticist at the University of California, began research on ALC’s because they seemed to have a natural immunity to feline leukaemia.  Dr. Centerwall provided Jean Sugden, now Jean Mill (having remarried) with eight females from his ALC and domestic shorthair crosses.  In 1983 Mrs Mill registered these cats with TICA as well as their offspring.  The Bengal Leopard Cat was first exhibited in a cat show in 1985 showing in the New Breed or Colour Class.  The reaction was overwhelming, as crowds gathered in awe over this magnificent new creation.  The Bengal breed had been born!!There are two coat patterns, a spotted pattern and a marbled pattern with three colour classes - brown, snow and silver.