This cat is truly unique. The goal of its creators was to create a domestic cat with a look as close as possible to that of its main ancestor’s, the leopard cat. Just have a look at a Bengal, and see how well they succeeded.
The Bengal is a rather recent feline breed: its type was settled in the USA in the 1960’s, by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat and domestic cats. For expert Boris Eher: “The Bengal is a relatively healthy breed, and there are two main reasons to it. First of all, the standard incites us to look for an athletic and balanced body, in which no trait is pushed to the extreme. Besides, thanks to hybridising, we have access to the genetic pool of the Felis bengalensis, a species which had to affirm itself in the natural selection for a much longer time than our domestic cats.” This specialist was the author of an article published on aniwa, The Bengal: Today’s Trends And Tomorrow’s Challenges.
Among the breeds used to create the Bengal, one can name the Abyssinian, the American Shorthair, the Burmese and the Egyptian Mau. Picture of a Leopard cat or Felis prionailirus bengalensis.
Despite its youth, the Bengal is now considered as an entire breed, but all the individuals used in breeding and in TICA shows, must be at least from the 3rd generation, and therefore have 14 ancestors registered as Bengals. It took 20 years for the Americans to fix the breed. Here’s a brief summary of the history of the breed, from the creation to the introduction of the breed in France: In 1963, Jean Mill, a Californian breeder, purchased a wild cat, the Asian Leopard Cat, Felis prionailurus bengalensis, a miniature leopard with a spotted coat that is a strong swimmer and excellent fisher. She crossed the cat with an American Shorthair queen, creating a breed of domestic cats presenting the physical features of wild cats. The females resulting from this cross were fertile. When crossed with the sire, they gave birth to kittens with spotted coats. Thus was the Bengal breed created. In 1973, Dr. Centerwall of the University of California continued this crossbreeding program to determine the Asian Leopard Cat's resistance to feline leukemia. He gave eight of these hybrids to Jean Mill, who continued her selective breeding program. Siamese, Egyptian Mau, and Burmese cats were used by breeders to create new lines. The first specimen, "Millwood Finally Found" was registered with T.I.C.A. in 1983. The F.I.Fe only recently recognized the Bengal; the C.F.A. does not recognize the breed. The Bengal cat was introduced in France in 1991.”
While Millwood Finally Found was the first registered Bengal, many other famous cats came from Jean Sugden’s selection: Millwood Rorschack (an F1 generation issued from an Asian Leopard Cat and an American Shorthair female), Millwood Pennybank (issued from the female Rorschack with a Shorthair stud.) these cats can be found in almost all of the first pedigrees. Other affixes quickly appeared in the American selection: Alotaspots, Gogges (based on the male Milwood Rajin Cajun), Belltown, Almaden, Madaas, Heritage, Nairobi, Foothill (which has produced in 2002 an 8th generation of Bengals.)
Very quickly, the Bengal found its place within the American world of cat fancy, and its name began to become famous. Celebrities fell for this cat, like Rock Singer Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, who became one of the ambassadors of the breed in Great Britain after he acquired the female Tiffen at one of the pioneers’ cattery. The TICA, which favoured the selectin of the breed, has revised the breed standard in 2000, before publishing it in May 2001. The TICA insists on the aims of the selection: “ The goal of the Bengal breeding program is to create a domestic cat which has physical features distinctive to the small forest-dwelling wild cats, and with the loving, dependable temperament of the domestic cat. Keeping this goal in mind, the judges shall give special merit to those characteristics in the appearance of the Bengal which are distinct from those found in other domestic cat breeds.”
The many cat associations have taken different attitudes towards the Bengal. In the USA for instance: the TICA naturally is the main and logical Bengal federation, but on the other hand, the CFA – which defines itself as the world’s largest cat association – recognises 37 breeds, and the Bengal is not one of those.In France, the LOOF has recognised the breed, and has integrated it in the Shorthair category: the Bengal now finds itself within its ancestors: Abyssinian; American Shorthair, etc.) The FIFe ( an international feline federation created in 1949 by French woman Mrs ravel) also recognises the Bengal. Libbie Kerr, from the Bengal cat Breed Committee, underlines that “ The Bengal is unique in the world of dog fancy, because it’s the only cross between a non domestic cat, the Felis bengalensis, and a domestic cat, Felis catus, of which we have proves.”
In Great Britain, the Governing Council Of the Cat Fancy – GCCF – not only recognises the breed, but also confirms the booming of the breed: from 61 pedigrees in 1992, the number has reached 1942 in 2001. The breed now is in the British top 10.While in the USA and in Great Britain the success of the Bengal seems certain, the same is not true for France, and the breed remains rather confidential. In 2000, the LOOF only delivered less than 20 pedigrees for the breed. But chances are the breed becomes more and more popular, and follows the trend of the other countries where it is now perfectly established. In the USA, breeder Mrs Gene Johnson-Ory has founded the International Bengal Cat Society, which unites more than 300 specialists breeders around the world. She also published The Bengal Foundation LookBook, which sums up with many testimonies and pictures, the history of the creation of the breed. The selection of the Bengal was achieved in a rather short time. Actually, through crosses and careful selection generation after generation, the Americans have managed in creating from a man-fearing wild cat, a cat which is now one of the favourites of the cat lovers, and much sought after thanks to its curiosity, liveliness, trust and love for its owners.
Getting to know The Bengal Cat: A great book on the Bengal written by Mrs Gene Johnson-Ory Ducote, whose cattery name, Gogees, is internationally famous. 120 pages and 70 picture colours for the pleasure of all the breed lovers.
Here’s the address of The International Bengal Cat Society Inc (TICA affiliated)121 Buhman Road, Washougal, WA 98671 (USA)Email: secretary@bengalcat.com
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