History of Bengal Breeds
The Bengal cat is a cross between domestic cats and the wild Asian Leopard cat. It is an even-tempered, gentle, affectionate and playful family pet. The domestic Bengal derives its name from the species name of its wild ancestor, Felis bengalensis, an Asian leopard cat. Thus the Bengal cat breed has no relationship to the Bengal tiger.
The Asian Leopard Cat
Asian Leopard cats are wild animals. No matter how Asian leopard cats are raised, when sexually mature, they are not tame or domesticated. They don't spend the evening purring contentedly on your lap. They are solitary, nocturnal, wild animals that are shy and reclusive and will rarely allow handing or touching by a human. They instinctively resent being "cornered" and may become aggressively defensive when protecting their young. They usually have no interest in human companionship and receive no pleasure from petting. Although the leopard cat is small by comparison to the tiger, lion, leopard and cougar it is probably less tameable. The leopard cats' home range spans from Pakistan, across Asia, to the Philipines. In some regions of Asia, leopard cats are nearly extinct and many species are considered endangered or threatened.
The Bengal cat
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The Bengal Cat is a most exciting breed of domestic cat and is bred to resemble their wild ancestors, yet have a loving, friendly disposition equal to any other domestic cat. Successful attempts have been made to recreate the jungle felines by crossing the small Asian Leopard with a short haired domestic cat. The primary domestic cat being the Egyptian Mau - which is another spotted cat. Other domestic cats have been used - the Ocicat, the Abyssinian, the Bombay and the British Blue. In the United States, the first international and controlled hybridization of a domestic cat with the wild Asian Leopard cat by Jean Sugden Mill was recorded in 1965 in Arizona. Other breeding was done in the 1970s and the name Bengal was adopted as the official breed name, but the bloodlines originating during that period were not perpetuated. Early in the 1980s, Ms Mill joined forces with other Bengal enthusiasts and started two different bloodlines. Through their efforts, breed standards were established and registration was undertaken by TICA (The International Cat Association). In 1984 Bengal cats from a number of bloodlines were exhibited and judged in TICA shows worldwide.
Generations of Bengals
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First generation (F1) cats are stand-offish and sometimes unfriendly, they must be penned and do not make good pets. The males are sterile, while females often kill their offspring. F2 kittens must acclimatise to human touch, some F2 males sill being infertile. After F2 the cats are far more friendly.
