In the early 60s, bengals were developed initially by Jean Mill breeding a domestic cat, (Egyptian Mau, domestic shorthair) to an Asian Leopard Cat. The offspring was called a Bengal Cat.
The word Bengal came from the genis species name for the Asian Leopard Cat which is Felis Bengalensis.
Originally, Jean Mill was trying to breed for a wild leopard look, not a wild asian leopard cat look. But the only wild cat with spotting and rosetting that could breed to domestics successfully was the Asian Leopard Cat.
Extensive work was necessary to successfully breed the domestic cat with the asian leapard cat. It wasn’t until the mid80s that the breed was at a standerd for them to appear in cat shows. Were they were enthusiastically received. This is a way of preserving some of the natural beauty of the leapard cat, and being able to enjoy this beauty in a domesticated cat.
Temperament
Some one once said to me that Bengals “are highly intelligent clowns”. and I thought to myself how true this is. Bengals have uniquely different personalities from other breeds. They are extremely intelligent, but along with their intelligence they are incredibly curious, playful, lively, and affectionate.
It is a pleasure to own a Bengal, and anyone that does, will tell you they will keep you amused. Some interesting things that Bengals do to amuse us all:
- Walk on a lead.
- Can be taught to fetch.
- Although not all Bengals like to swim, they do enjoy water.
- Our Bengals have learned to open our doors.
- And believe it or not one of our Bengals has learned to flush the toilet.
And after all there antics they will spend a large part of their day snoozing in there favorite place.
Not a day will pass, when there antics won’t make me laugh. There confident and mischievous, and if there not flying across the room to catch a fly, there falling into the bath with the kids, and having a swim.
Bengal colour and pattern
There are two accepted pattern types, ppotted and marble, In the Bengal breed. Colors that are accepted are brown, silver, and three snow colors( seal lynx point, seal sepia, seal mink), there are Blue and Melanistic(Black) which are not accepted for show status.
Brown Examples
Silver Examples
Marble Example
Three Snow Spotted Examples
