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A Brief History of the Bengal

(Above: Asian Leopard Cats)

The Bengal cat is a hybrid breed which has been developed over several generations by selectively crossbreeding domestic cats with the Asian Leopard Cat. The Bengal cats name comes from the Latin name for Asian Leopard Cat “ felis bengalensis” The Bengal cat combines the beautiful wild colours and markings of the Asian Leopard Cat with the dependable, trusting nature of the domestic cat.

The first 3 generations of the Bengal are reffered to as foundation generations. The foundation generation are known as F1, F2 and F3 Bengals. To better understand, a Bengal cat with a ALC parent is called a F1 Bengal. A F1 mated with a domestic male is called a F2 Bengal. Kittens from a F2 female and a domestic cat are a F3 Bengal. Kittens from a subsequent F3 breeding with a domestic cat are F4.The F4 generation and onwards are called domestic cats and are known as Stud Book Tradition (SBT) Bengals. These generations can be registered and shown.

The Asian Leopard Cat is a small wild cat that can be found in the forests of Southern Asia. Their was a concern in the 1960’s of the possible extinction of the Asian Leopard Cat this led Jean Sugden (later Mill) of California to try to conserve the breed by mating it with a domestic cat. Years later Dr W Centerwall at the University of California continued the breeding program while investigating the Asian Leopard Cats natural immunity to feline leukemia. Because of these people the beautiful Bengal came about. The first Bengal was registered in 1983.