About Bengals

Bengal domestic cats trace back to experimental crosses between common domestic cats and the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), felis bengalensis (from which the name "Bengal" derives). Often sold in pet stores in the early 20th century, these beautiful leopard-cat kittens looked like tiny leopards but grew into untouchable, untamable cats unsuitable as pets. In the early 1960's, Jean Mill owned a female ALC and gave her a solid black, domestic male as a companion. To everyone's surprise, the two produced a tiny, hybrid kitten which a year later produced a second-generation hybrid. This line died out, but encouraged by the success, and dreaming of a tiny domestic leopard breed, in 1980 Jean Mill obtained several first-generation kittens from Dr. Willard Centerwall at Loma Linda University who had hybridized the two species in his studies of apparent leukemia protection enjoyed by the ALC. Two of these female hybrids, Praline and Pennybank, became the first foundation cats in early Bengal history. The newly formed, genetics oriented International Cat Association (TICA) welcomed Bengals into their registry, and into their New Breed classes at gigantic INCAT shows all over the country. Exhibitors and visitors crowded around Jean Mill's cages to delight in viewing this stunning new breed. TICA judges were fascinated by the genetic possibilities of working with heretofore unknown gene components.

The genetics was indeed challenging! Early domestic partners of the original ALC males were of unknown heritage and brought a wide range of recessive genes to the crosses, such as long hair, dilute colors, solids, colour point pattern, and the classic tabby pattern. But when the latter met with the leopard spots, the result was a dramatic "smearing" of the spots into odd, startling patterns of black, rust, and light tan combinations. Kittens looked like richly colored Easter eggs! And each kitten was unique! They were called "marbles", were included in the Bengal registry, and were given their own classes at the shows. One of the early genetic contributors to the new breed was a young domestic male from New Delhi, India (Millwood Tory of Delhi), who brought gorgeous emerald green eyes, a spotted coat without stripes, glistening, thick fur (now called "glittered pelt:), and a "hot" orange colour. These characteristics were unknown in the American cat gene pool before that. Early Bengals were carefully bred for sweet temperaments and also exhibited intelligence and unique behaviors tracing back to the wild ancestor.

The possibility of developing a friendly, people-oriented, domestic cat, uniquely beautiful and leopard-like, inspired and challenged creative breeders world-wide to join the effort. Bengals are still very much "under construction" and still offer the challenge of adding spectacular beauty to the world.