Majesticgems Bengals

Bengal History

The Asian Leopard Cat:

On average, the Asian Leopard cat is as large as a domestic cat, but there are considerable regional differences. In Indonesia, the average body size is 18 inches and the tail is another 8 inches; whereas, in the Amur region it reaches a body size of 24 inches with a 16 inch tail. Its shoulder height is 16 inches and it weighs 10-15 lbs, similar to a domestic cat. The fur is also quite variable; it is yellow in the southern populations, and silvery-grey in the northern regions. The chest and the lower part of the head are white. The Asian Leopard cat has black markings, either spots or rosettes, depending upon the subspecies. The Asian Leopard cat is usually a solitary animal except during the mating season and in captivity if handled by humans.

A couple of interesting facts for you:

The male Asian Leopard cat rears his cubs along with the mother. There aren't many male animals that will rear their own young.

If you leave any water down low the Leopard cat will use it as a toilet! This is a natural instinct that the wild Leopard cat does in running waters or rivers to mask its smell from predators.

Bengals:

Bengals have been hybridized from the small, shy, forest dwelling Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) or precisely Felis Bengalensis. These cats are mainly found in SE Asia. The idea was to create a domestic that retained the appearance of its feral ancestor while developing a sweet natured pet. This was partially done to discourage the slaughter of the timid cat. Their pelt was admired and in demand for making into clothing accessories. The fur was used for ladies' fashion articles. If people could own a wild looking but domestic cat with a stunning pelt they may be less apt to trap the ALC and wear their pelts. The recent CITES treaty now protects these wonderful felines from such a fate.

Years later in 1961, Jean Mill of Arizona had acquired an ALC that bred with a domestic shorthair tomcat. One female survived which was then bred back to the father. Through misfortune with the early breeding program, it was abandoned until 1980 when she married Bob Mill and moved to California. When looking for new ALC's she was directed to Dr. Willard Centerwall at Loma Linda University who was doing leukemia research on ALC's and F1 kittens. The ALC seemed to have somewhat of a natural immunity to this dreaded disease. Once he obtained blood samples for research he was happy to place the kittens he had. A few years later Ms. Mill instigated the assistance of a stud she found in Delhi. Millwood Tory of Delhi developed into the king of all studs for Bengals today. Thus the new breed began.

MYTH- A Bengal may revert back to it roots and be dangerous.

TRUTH-the ALC was never a dangerous feline. It had to be shy and aloof to avoid humans.

Appearance - colours and patterns:

Bengal Cats resemble a spotted African leopard but do not grow larger than any other household cat. The overall appearance of a Bengal consists of a pelt-like coat, contrasting dark spots amidst a lighter background colour, uniquely striking head markings or crown, small wide-set ears, black lipstick, eye liner and paw pads.

Sometimes, the dark spots will open up and shine through with a variation of colour. These are called rosettes and can be seen on some breeds of feral cats. This rarity is a bonus on a bengal and can be very expensive. Another rare find is glitter - the end of the hairs are tipped in gold, which glistens in the sun. The body is long and sleek with higher hind legs. The eyes are round or almond highlighted with gold, green or blue. Variations in colour exist in Bengals: brown, snow, silver are themain colours with new ones being evaluated and patterns consist of spotted and marbled.

Personality:

Bengals are quite a new breed that have soared to high demand in the last few years. People are recognizing the unique desirable differences compared to a common domestic. Gone are the days when you only see your cat when it wants food or attention. Bengal Cats want to be part of the family at all times and are very loyal pets. Their intelligence and ability to reason are uncanny. They can figure out what would be almost impossible tasks for a normal cat and are often described as having dog like behaviour - following you from room to room, or playing fetch. The athletic abilities of these cats are a sight to behold. Bengals also love to play in water - this is inherent as the Asian Leopard Cat hunted for food in the water.

From this point forward, SBT means only Bengal to Bengal breeding to retain its origin and purpose.