ASIAN LEOPARD CAT
The Bengal owes its existence to the crossing of domestic cats with Asian leopards (Felis bengalensis). The Asian leopard cat can be found in northern uplands of China southwards, to include India, Southeast Asia and many island countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Borneo. The Asian leopard is the same size as a domestic cat, weighing from 6 to 12 pounds. The coat pattern of the Asian leopard is similar to the Ocelot, which has spots. The Asian leopard is on of a few species of wild cats that will breed with domestic cats.
The Asian leopard is a smallish nocturnal cat by nature. They are very shy and do not make good house pets. Using them in a breeding program requires special care. These cats do not have the domestic characteristics that most people desire in a house cat. It is through selective cross breeding that the looks of the wild cat are blended with the desirable characteristics of the domestic cat.
Where the first Bengalis started appears to be varied. There are several different stories about how these cats came to be. One is that there was an accidental crossing at a zoo. Another story is that they were deliberately crossed in the 1970's because of the threat of Feline Leukemia that was causing problems with the domestic cats in the US. There is even documentation that Japan was the first to do this cross in 1941. All of these may have contributed to the wonderful breed that is now available.
BENGAL
When a full-blooded Asian leopard (ALC) crosses with a domestic cat they produce first generation Bengalis or F1s. It is not until the crossings are down to the 4th generation, which would be an F4 or an SBT that they can be shown in cat shows. Because of the breeding of an actual wild undomesticated cat some cat associations will not recognize this breed. The International Cat Association (TICA) was the first association to recognize the breed while the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) still does not.
DESCRIPTION
The Bengal breed description is a medium-sized cat. It has a well-proportioned body type and head. The hind legs of the Bengal should be higher than the front. The ears should be small and rounded. They should have black outlines on their mouth and nose, black paw pads and a black tip on their tail. Coats should be short to medium in length and should have one of two patterns. The spotted pattern can be small spots spread over their bodies or large spots with large unspotted areas on them. The spots should be dark on a light background and should be random or arranged in a horizontal alignment over the body. The second pattern is a marble pattern. This pattern should be symmetrical on both sides of the cat and the colors should flow around the cat.
The colors for the Bengal are brown, Seal Sepia, Seal Mink, Seal Lynx point and new colors like blue and silver. The Bengal is still being developed so new colors and patterns are possible. Breeding to meet or exceed the standard is every breeder's desire. Bengals can also have glitter. Glitter is where the tips of the hair are shinny like freshly fallen dew. They sparkle and make the coat look very fluid. Another feature is the spots. There are several colors of spots and patterns. There are solid spots and rosetted spots. Rosettes are spots that are comprised of 2 or more colors that are in contrast to the background color. There are several different rosette patterns: arrowhead, paw print, donut. The Bengals are the only domestic purebreds that have rosettes.
Despite their beginnings Bengals make great pets. They are very active and intelligent. These cats can be trained to do tricks and are known to play fetch automatically. The Bengal has a love for water and high places. The breeders have crossed a wild Asian leopard with a domestic cat to give us a small leopard for our homes. These cats are very social and lovable and don't require any different care than you would give a regular domestic. |
