Bengal – Leopard Cat / Domestic Hybrid
The Bengal Cat breed resulted from an effort to combine the markings of a wild Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis) with the temperament of the domestic cat (Felis catus). Although wild/domestic crosses have occurred sporadically in the wild for hundreds of years, a geneticist working in the United States attempted the first deliberate effort in 1963. A female Leopard Cat and a male domestic cat were deliberately crossbred, producing a varied litter. One of the littered kittens was then mated with her father, which in turn produced a spotted litter and solid kittens.
First generation offspring are called F1's and are wild. They eat raw meat and will not use a litter box. Bengals have became more tame as the generations have progressed, however, and today most can be handled safely. They eat regular cat food and will use a litter box.
The Bengal Cat has large spots on its coat that line up in horizontal rows, giving the coat a distinct appearance. This breed comes in all variations of brown, yellow, buff, tan, golden, or orange ground colors. Today the size of the Bengal is about the size of an American Shorthair cat. All of our Bengals have been neutered and spayed.
We would never promote the breeding of hybrid animals such as Bengal Cats, Chausis, Savannahs etc... We have seen far too many Bengals, that people paid up to $3000.00 for, who were free to a good home when they matured. They are confused as to whether they are wild or domestic and typically have horrible medical problems. The most common in Bengals (it is more common to have it than not) is irritable bowel disease, which means a life of projectile diarrhea.
Perhaps the worst thing is the use of the very rare Leopard Cats in the hybridization process. Promoting these cats and their offspring as pets has caused them to be viewed as common and therefore the zoos are no longer participating in plans to save them in the wild. The Leopard Cat is an endangered species and should be regarded with the respect that is due a vanishing breed.
Read more about the plight of hybrid cats here.
Voice talent by Bonnie-Jean Creais 2006
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